NOTES AND MEMORANDA. 



Mr. Sankey, on a new Solution for Staining Sections of 

 Hardened Animal Tissues. — Although the number of dyes 

 recommended for use in histological investigation is 

 already somewhat large, I cannot refrain from adding 

 another to the list, which appears to present useful quali- 

 ties in a combination not met with in any other dyeing 

 material with which I am acquainted. I have already spoken 

 in favour of this dye in a paper in the last number of the 

 ' West Riding Reports ;' but I had not at that time used it 

 extensively for staining hardened sections, and was, therefore, 

 not acquainted with the best method of using it. In the dry 

 state the substance, under the name of aniline blue-black, 

 can be obtained from the manufacturers, Messrs. Read, Hol- 

 liday, and Sons, of Huddersfield.^ It is a blackish powder, 

 something like gunpowder in aspect. It can be dissolved 

 in alcohol, but it is much more soluble in water. When dis- 

 solved in alcohol it will be found to make a very useful dye 

 for hardened sections of animal tissues. 



Owing to the great facility with which it dissolves in 

 water, and the difficulty with which it dissolves in alcohol, 

 the best way to get it in solution in the last-mentionad 

 liquid is first to make a very concentrated aqueous solution, 

 and then to pour it into strong alcohol. In this way it is 

 very easy to get a solution strong enough to dye any texture 

 in a few minutes. 



I find the following quantities yield a solution of con- 

 venient strength : — '05 gramme of aniline black is to be dis- 

 solved in 1 or 2 cubic centimetres of water ; when solution 

 is complete 99 cubic centimetres of methylated alcohol are 

 to be added ; the mixture must then be filtered, and is 

 ready for use. 



' Or at 15, Fenchurch Street, London. The price of the dye is about 6s. 

 per lb. 



