The Microscope. 249 



Felt-tipped pliers. — Every one has experienced the diffi- 

 culty of using pliers or forceps of the ordinary pattern in handl- 

 ing delicate and slippery tissues. If the corrugations are suffi- 

 ciently sharp to be of service, there is much danger of lacerating 

 or perforating the membrane. This is true in the dissection of 

 amphibia with mucous glands in the skin, as well as in the 

 mucous and serous membranes of other vertebrates and of the 

 meninges of the brain. This difficulty may be almost entirely 

 obviated by gluing to the points accurately fitted pieces of close- 

 textured felt or chamois skin, which facilitate steady and firm 

 tension without danger of laceration. — Prof C. L. Herrick'^. 



An almost u>fTRODDEN FIELD for research, suggests J. B. Far- 

 mer in the Annals of Botany, is to be found in the morphology 

 and physiology of the pulp of succulent fruits. 



Preservation of urine for examination. — In order to ar- 

 rive at the true condition of a sample of urine, the earlier it is 

 examined the better. It is however sometimes impossible to ob- 

 tain it for examination for many hours, or even days, after it 

 has been passed, and it is then often entirely changed. Various 

 substances have been recommended as an ti- ferments and pre- 

 servatives, but all have objectionable features. Accident re- 

 cently led us to try napthalin, and the results were as gratify- 

 ing as they were unexpected. Though the substance is well nigh 

 insoluble in water, and a crystal added to tirine remains unat- 

 tacked, so far as appearances go, for days, a very minute quantity 

 of it sufficed to preserve a couple of ounces of urine apparently 

 unchanged for several days. — National Druggist. 



Corn silk and pollen. — Early in the morning, before sunrise, 

 pollen was sprinkled upon a silk just protruding from the shuck; 

 after five or six hours the ends of the silk were cut off', put in 

 camphor water, and after several days mounted in the same. 

 By focussing up and down the pollen tubes may be seen. The 

 pollen must be sprinkled on a fresh silk early in the morning 

 while it is damp. If no tassel can be found ready to shed its 

 pollen, cut off" one and hang it in the sun ; in half an hour or 

 more it will shed it copiously. In four or five hours hundreds 



1 Journ. Comp. Neurology. 



