18976).-4 THE MICROSCOPE. 77 
moved on the second or third day. Sections from 3 to 5 
em. thick are then cut and kept in distilled water, or, bet- 
ter, in alcohol at 40 degrees, for twelve to twenty-four 
~ hours; then plunged into 75 degrees solution of Aq N O3 
inthe dark. The white substance soon becomes stained 
brown. A prolonged stay in the Aq N O3 sol. does no 
harm. The stain may be fixed for an indefinite time if the 
preparation is left for two or three days inthe dark in 
distilled water and then in alcohol at 70 degrees. ‘Tissue 
so prepared shows in the clearest manner the relations 
between the white and the grey substance. For example 
in the medulla one could distinctly see with the naked eye 
the respiratory fascicules of Krauss. ‘The advantages 
claimed by the author for this method are its simplicity 
and rapidity of execution, the constancy of the results and 
its great teaching value.—Brit. Med. Jourral. 
RECENT PUBLICATIONS. 
Joan of Arc.—By Francis C. Lowell, 8mo. 382pp. Pub- 
lished by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1896. 
In this work the author has given a rather complete 
account of the condition of France from the middle of the 
fifteenth century to the close of the hundred years war 
with England. The volume is interesting asa history of 
the times, and as such is necessarily a chronical of the life, 
trials and execution of Joan of Arc, who was really the cen- 
tral figure around which the lesser lights of that time 
revolved. At the time she was the mystery of all Europe 
and to-day she belongs more to occult students than to 
nineteenth century scepticism. History has brought 
down to us certain facts and many mysteries concerning 
the Maid of Orleans, and it is unnecessary to enlarge on 
them here. That Joan actually lived, raised the siege of 
Orleans, foretold the coronation of Charles VII at Rheims, 
stormed Paris in September, 1429, was captured at Com- 
piegne, sold to the English, tried, condemned as a witch, 
