THE MICROSCOPE. 



173 



Figure i shows fragments of lung tissue, from an early stage 

 of phthisis, prepared as above. If this examination reveals nothing, 

 then manipulate as follows : Make a solution of sodic hydrate, 20 

 grains to the ounce of water. Mi.x the sputa with an equal bulk of 

 this solution, and boil. Then add to this mixture four or five times 

 its bulk of cold water. If possible, pour into a conical-shaped glass 

 and set aside. Soon the yellow elastic fibres, if present, will fall to 

 the bottom; from there they can be dra\vn up with a pipette and 

 examined. 



Several slides should be examined at a single sitting, and the 

 examination should be repeated every few days until the presence or 

 absence of these fibres is satisfactorilv demonstrated. 



During our holiday vacation we had the pleasure of having with 

 us our older brother, Prof. T. B. Stowell, A.M., Ph. D., and together 

 we mounted over six hundred histological specimens. We were very 

 much pleased with the action of Dr. Woodward's violet-carmine. 

 We were first induced to try this, from a description of it in Dr. 

 Seiler's work, p. 6^. The sections are placed in the staining solution 

 from thirty seconds to one minute, but they may be left longer with- 



