38 ‘ THE MICROSCOPE. 
Correspondence. 
Dr. C. H. Stowell: 
Dear Srir.—Can you tell me through the Microscopes, how 
exchanges with foreign countries may be effected. I have received 
no less than 20 vials containing fluids in a single box from Europe, 
but if I attempt to send one vial, even, packed in cotton ina tightly 
corked wooden block, it is invariably returned from the U.S. P. O., 
stamped “liable to injure and deface the mail.” Now the U.S. are 
particularly a young people as regards microscopy. We can learn 
much from the old world but the P. O. department puts an embargo 
upon knowledge to be obtained by way of exchanges. It seems to 
me that this would be a subject worth agitation by microscopists. 
Perhaps it is one of those ills which must be endured because they 
cannot be cured, but it certainly seems like au annoyance too great 
for endurance. 
Very respectfully, 
Mary A. Booru. 
A New MountinG FLuip.—For preserving the cell-contents 
and the natural color and form of desmids, volvox, and other alge, 
I find a mounting fluid made as follows to act well: Dissolve 15 
grains of acetate of copper in a mixture of 4 fluid ounces of camphor 
water, 4 fluid ounces of distilled water, and zo minims of glacial 
acetic acid; add 8 fluid ounces of Price’s glycerin, and filter. When 
sections of plant-stems, or other vegetable specimens, are mounted 
in this fluid the protoplasm is preserved. If, in any case, it is 
thought desirable to increase or diminish the specific gravity of the 
preservative, the proportion of glycerin may be changed. Used as 
above, or modified as indicated, I think it also a trustworthy medium 
for mounting infusoria and the softer animal tissues—Am. Month. 
Mic. Jour. 
