io4 THE MICROSCOPE. 



scrape the specimen away at any place. Dammar is added (oil of 

 cloves not necessary) and the cover-glass applied permanently if an 

 examination of the specimen is satisfactory. The nerve-cells usually 

 show to good advantage by this method. 



The brain may be hardened by processes recommended for the 

 spinal cord. A 2 or 3 p. c. solution of bichromate of ammonia is a 

 useful hardening agent. Small portions placed in Muller's fluid 

 and then in alcohol are suitable for study. 



FOREIGN BODIES ON COATED TONGUES. 



TO any one not familiar with coated tongues the following may 

 seem interesting. The subject is not quite so important as. if 

 they were in the air passages but they are curious. 



Fibres of wool, linen and cotton; fibres of spiral vessels; fibres 

 of muscle in one case eight hours after eating; starch grains; cheese 

 mould; portions of potatoe skin; scales, moths, etc.; hairs from 

 legs of bees; hairs from legs of spiders; pollen of various flowers; 

 stamens of various flowers; hairs of cats, quite common; hairs of 

 mouse once only; hairs from various leaves; wing of mosquito, 

 once; fragments of the leaves of tobacco, of chamomile flowers, 

 etc., etc. 



A list ten times as long could be made, but jam satis. 



W. H. B. 



GLEANINGS FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL 

 MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY FOR JUNE. 



BY C. H. STOWELL. 



The Utility oj the Microscope in Chemistry. — The writer claims 

 that the microscope is approaching, and in some respects surpassing, 

 the spectroscope in chemical analysis. 



The most minute traces of silica can be detected in a mineral 

 by melting a sample of the substance with a little potassium hydrate, 

 and dissolving it in a little water and then placing a clear drop of 

 the solution on a slide; then add a drop of a two-per-cent. solution 

 of sodium bicarbonate, and allow the liquid to evaporate at the ordi- 

 nary temperature. Beautiful flpwer-form crystals will be present. 



Aluminum oxide can be as readily detected as silica. 



