The Microscope. 281 



receptacle, and, if care is taken in the removal of its fluid, the 

 latter requires no sterilization at the time of its reception into 

 the bacteriologist's tubes or flasks. Dr. Sternberg has been 

 able to store it away almost indefinitely for future use, the fluid 

 remaining perfectly transparent and ready for immediate use. 

 Heating the fluid will cause in it a slight precipitate. He has 

 employed this medium quite extensirely during the past two 

 years, although he has been cognizant of some of its properties 

 since 18T9, and has found it of great convenience. Certain 

 micro-organisms multiply in it more rapidly than others in con- 

 sequence of its slightly acid reaction when first obtained from 

 the nut. This reaction makes it unsuitable for cultures of cer- 

 tain of the pathogenic bacteria, but, when desired, it is a simple 

 matter to neutralize it. A detailed chemical analysis of the 

 fluid is given in the paper. — New York Medical Journal. 



WAYS • 

 AND MEANS 



I 



BALSAM MOUNTING. 



V. A. LATHAM, F. R. M. S. 



N reading through the January number of The Microscope I 

 noticed the article on mounting. Cajeput oil is not new to 

 me, as I have used it for several years, also oil of bergamot and 

 several other oils ; the last which I am now working on is Tur- 

 penol or Turbenol (Merck). The reason I fii'st tried the oil of 

 cajeput was the difficulty to mount neatly and evenly sections 

 of human skin and tracheai, for they curl up when placed in 

 alcohol. This oil is better tiian clove oil for this purpose, but 

 unfortunately alcohol has to be used, though the process is sim- 

 plified by using it diluted. 



I hardly know of tlie specimens for which I have been com- 

 pelled to use absolute alcohol, the ordinary spirit being suffi- 

 cient. In England where methylated spirit is the chief dehy- 

 drater used on account of cheapness, then you may require to 

 use the absolute alcohol. The only cases in which I have used 



