Ture Microscope. 919 
to the bottom of the cork. ‘his will act asa drain, but it should, 
of course, be securely plugged during the freezing operations. The 
advantages of this extemporaneous arrangement were seen in that 
not only was the chamber more confined, thus preventing waste, 
but the cork, being a poor conductor, caused a much more rapid 
cooling of the metal stage. 
A specimen of the size used in the first experiments was frozen 
on this modified instrument in one and a half minutes by means 
of ether, and in thirty-five seconds by that of the Pictet fluid. 
The advantage of the Pictet fluid over the ether is the rapidity 
and permanency with which it freezes the specimens. This per- 
manency is an important feature, as it allows many sections to be 
cut before the specimen slides from the stage. Its disadvantage is 
the intolerable and penetrating odor, identical with that of a burn- 
ing sulphur match. As the freezing time is so short, the operation 
can be done out of doors ; for, when finished, the odor, though dis- 
agreeable, is quite bearable. 
The object of this paper, however, is more to call attention of 
the reader to the extemporized instrument. Though hardly origi- 
nal, it is so simple in its construction, that he who does not possess 
a freezing apparatus can easily construct one equal in efficiency to 
any I have seen on the market. For using ether, an ordinary per- 
fumery atomizer will answer. * The spray should be a liberal one 
and moderately fine in quality, and a double bulb should be used 
to make it steady. If properly made, and it is difficult to see 
how it could be done otherwise, I am confident it will prove a 
useful addition to the working table. 
VICTORY AT LAST. 
C. H. STOWELL. 
OME of the old friends of “THe Microscope” will remember 
how its editors were taken to task for speaking boldly 
concerning certain most unjust and uncalled for attacks upon it. 
The facts were, that a certain self-assertive egotist thought 
no one could edit anything in the microscopical line but himself. 
So it set itself at work to crush his young opponent. How 
well this was done is shown in the foremost position held by 
the journal to-day. The editors of Tar Microscope were not 
