1895 THE MICROSCOPE. 61 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



New Series, 1893. 



For Naturalists^ P/iysiciafis, and Driiggists^ and Designed to Populariz, 



Microscopy. 



Published monthly. Price $i.oo -per annum. Subscriptions should end 

 -ivith the year. The old series, consisting of 12 volutnes {i8Si-i8g?), endrd 

 with December^ iSgz. Sets of the old series cannot he furnished. All 

 correspondence, exchanges, and books for notice should be addressed to the 

 Microscopical Publishing Co., Washington, D. C, U. S. A. 



CHARLES W. SMILEY, A. M., EDITOR. 



EDITORIAL. 



Lighton's Stained Diatoms. — It was with much regret that 

 we received lately a letter from a subscriber who complained 

 that the slides he had purchased from Prof. Lighton were " not 

 fit to be placed in any cabinet." He indignantly demanded 

 from Prof. Lighton the return of his money and reported the 

 matter to us. We have made some investigation and have 

 letters of four other purchasers before us, from which we con- 

 clude as follows : 



Prof. Lighton's material was not perfectly cleaned and as a 

 consequence a certain amount of rubbish has been mounted 

 with the diatoms. But that he has succeeded in staining the 

 diatom shells in a satisfactory manner is well established. 

 This is, however, not a new discovery. Dr. Edwards stained 

 them many years ago. Lighton uses the aniline dyes. Edwards 

 confirms this method, aad says he tried haematoxylin and 

 Prussian blue unsuccessfully. 



No other fault has been found with Lighton's mounting and 

 the reason why the purchaser would not put the slides in his 

 cabinet was, as he said, that his cabinet was not a place for 

 '■ stained dirt." Prof. Lighton claims to have returned his 

 money to him by registered mail and we have not heard to the 

 contrary. He ought next for neatness sake to learn how to clean 

 diatom material, and to avoid occasion for controversy. The 

 complainant, however, has been too severe and attempted to 



