246 The Microscope, 



special methods. 



DISSOCIATING ON MACERATING FLUIDS. 



It is sometimes desirable to tease out a tissue to get the re- 

 lations of one structure to another, as nerves and ganglia, 

 muscles; to separate one element from extraneous matter, as 

 spicules, crystals, etc., in the integuments of various animals, 

 or to isolate cells for special study, as corneal and gland cells, 

 muscle fibers, etc. For this purpose the entire object is placed 

 in a fluid which breaks up the connection between different 

 parts, but at the same time prevents any general decomposition 

 and preserves the elements in a condition for study. 



MULLER'S fluid. 



Bichromate of Potash, 25 grammes, 



Sulphate of Soda, 10 grammes, 



Water, 1,000 cc. 



For macerating, this is to be diluted 2-4 times with water. 

 In the strength given above, it is an excellent preservative fluid 

 for the organs of the viscera and pathological specimens. The 

 pieces used should be small and the fluid changed as often as it 

 shows any turbidity. By its use a considerable saving in alcohol 

 may be effected. 



EAU DE JAVELLE (.TAVELLE WATEP*). 



Eight drops of this to 100 c. c. of water suffices in 2-4 hours 

 to dissociate ganglia, nerve and muscle fibers, etc. It is a pow- 

 erful oxidising and bleaching agent, and a most useful one to 

 the microscopist, though but little known to the mass of work- 

 ers. Alone or diluted slightly with water, it quickly cleans di- 

 atoms, and almost instantly removes the soft parts of sponges, 

 leaving the skeleton of spicules intact. I know of no more 

 beautiful object for a binocular than a rather thick section of a 

 siliceous sponge, which has been cleaned with Javelle water. 

 To the anatomist it is ol equal value, as it makes beautifully 

 clean and white skulls and small skeletons with no injury to the 

 bones or any danger of a deposit. 



nitric and hydrochloric acid. 



These in a .25% solution, either alone or mixed, are used in 

 preparing nerve cells, the unstriated muscle fibers in the intes- 

 tine, uterus, etc., and the osteoblasts of developing bone. 



