1897 THE MICROSCOPE. 69 
in a peculiar manner, at right angle to the edges of the 
rhomb. I have saved a number of these little rhombs, 
and suggest mounting two slides: one as it is, perhaps 
thinned down; and another just etched off with acid, to 
show the marcasites in relief. Any one sending me a 
stamped envelope will receive a sample. 
Vegetable Sections. 
By PROF. F. D. KELSEY, 
OBERLIN, OHIO. 
Many vegetable sections prove stubborn in retaining 
stains during the dehydrating process in alcohol, and 
lose still more in the clearing with clove oil or with 
Gage's fluid. This is especially true of tissues where it 
has been necessary to remove starch by potassium hydrate 
or nitric acid. What shall be done ? Excellent results 
have been obtained by the present writer in the following 
manner : 
After the killing of the sections, or the clearing of 
starch, dehydrate thoroughly, and stain, not with the 
stains as usually prepared, but with staines dissolved in 
clove oil itself. After staining,clear in a separate drop of 
pure clove oil, or Gage’s fluid, and mount as usual in bal- 
sam. Specimens so stained appear to be as “permanent” 
as any other eosin specimens stained in the ordinary man- 
ner, and have a depth and richness of color not attained 
by the ordinary way. Any worker in vegetable sections 
knows how often vexatious results are reached by stains 
not taking. This clove-oil-stain method has not yet fail- 
ed to reach satisfactory and beautiful results in the hand 
of the author. Ofcourse dehydration must first be per- 
fect before the section is put into the clove oil stain. In 
mixing up clove oil stain, care must be taken to use the 
powdered stains and not get the solution saturated. A 
dilute clove oil stain is better than a concentrated one. 
