Tue Microscope. 89 
. ITEMS, 
STAINING. 
BY V. A. LATHAM, LATE HON. SEC. U. J F. C., NORWICH. 
Ripesin AND Eosrn.—After expressing and throwing away 
the juice of black currants ( ?ibes nigrum), boil the skins for 
some hours in a 10 per cent. solution of alum. The resulting 
deep-violet solution may be conveniently diluted with water, 
and after a lapse of a day should be filtered, and may be used 
for staining. The stain resembles Boehmer’s Logwood, but is a 
still more precise nuclear stain. It is a bright, somewhat 
greenish blue, agreeable, distinct, and permanent. Alcoholic 
objects stain quicker than chromic acid ones, but the most suit 
able are bichromate of potash objects. A ribesin stain may be 
followed by eosin. Brain and spinal cord give good results, es 
pecially when hardened in bichromate. 
To Oxsrain Goop Resutts with CArMINnE.—After staining, 
the superfluous pigment is removed by washing in water acidu- 
lated with 1 per cent. hydrochloric or glacial acetic acid, or in 
rectified spirit 60 parts, water 39 parts, hydrochloric acid 1 part 
(Pritchard). The acid heightens the color. ‘Tissues stained 
with carmine may be mounted in Farrant’s solution, glycerine, 
or dammar. 
Purpurin.—Take about as much as will lie on the point of 
a pen-knife, boil in 50 cc. of glycerine, (it may either be con- 
centrated or have a little water added to it), allow to stand for 
two or three days, and then filter. Unlike Ranvier’s solution, 
it may be kept months without precipitation; it is quite per- 
manent when mounted in Canada balsam and _ benzole, or 
glycerine slightly acidulated. 
A Srmpete AnD Speepy Mertuop oF StTaIntne ANIMAL AND 
VEGETABLE Srctions.—After cutting sections, wash them in 
water and allow them to soak for a while; transfer them to a 
solution of anilin violet 1 part, dissolved in 500 parts of acetic 
acid (commercial), leave them till sufficiently stained; which 
may be determined by removing the solution to clean water. 
Return if not stained enough. Mount after staining by trans- 
ferring them to a clean glass slide, drawing off any excess of 
