386 Miscellaneous. 
sively to stronger, and for some objects, as Medusze, no other treat- 
ment will succeed. 
So.LuTIon B. 1. 
Ott WALER <6) sae caeettit ln UE een eee 1 gallon. 
Solution Acaliyo a ayct eos eeeeace ane eee pean 1 qt. 
PAT SenLAte 0% (POLASS Ait hear cea eerie I oz. 
Another solution with double the amount of water may be made, if 
desired, and called solution B. 2. 
To preserve animals with these solutions they are, if insects or 
marine invertebrates, ordinarily placed first in solution B. 1; but if 
the weather be cool it would be better in many cases to employ first 
B. 2; and in the case of all marine animals, washing first in fresh 
water is desirable, though not essential. If the specimens rise to the 
surface they should be kept under by mechanical means. After re- 
maining for several hours, or a day, varying according to its size and 
the weather, in the B. 1 solution, it may be transferred to A. 3, 
and then successively to A. 2 and A. 1; and when thus fully pre- 
served it may be transferred to a fresh portion of the last solution, 
which has been filtered clear and bright, and put up ima cabinet, 
when no further change will be necessary if the bottle or other 
vessel be properly secured, to prevent the escape of the fluid by 
crystallization around the opening. To prevent this, the stoppers, 
whether of cork or glass, together with the neck of the bottle or jar, 
may be covered with a solution of parafline or wax in turpentine or 
benzole, which should be applied only when the surfaces are quite dry 
and clean. The length of time that any specimen should remain in 
each of the solutions is usually indicated by their sinking to the 
bottom when saturated by it. In general the more gradually this 
saturation with the saline matter takes place, the less the tissues 
contract or change in appearance. In many cases, however, fewer 
changes than indicated above will be effectual. I have in some cases 
succeeded well with but two solutions below A. 1. For vertebrates, 
except fishes, the solution A. 2 will usually be found strong enough 
for permanent preservation, especially when the object is small or 
dissected. If the entire animal be preserved, when larger than two 
pounds in weight, it should be injected with the fluids, especially 
B. 1 and the final A. 1 or 2, or an incision may be made in one 
side of the abdomen in vertebrates, or under the carapace of crabs, 
&c., to admit the fluids more freely. In preserving the animals of 
large univalve shells, an opening should be made through the shell, 
at or near the tip of thespire. Mammals, birds, and reptiles should 
be placed first in solution B. 2 to obtain the best results. In cases 
where the use of the B. fluids would be objectionable, on account ot 
their highly poisonous nature, a fourth dilution of solution A. 1, eor- 
responding in strength with B. 1, but without the arseniate of 
potassa, may be substituted, and in many cases will do nearly as well, 
if the weather be not very hot; but the specimens in this case should 
be carefully watched and transferred to the stronger solutions as 
soon as possible, so as to avoid incipient decomposition while in the 
first fluids.—Silliman’s American Journal, March 1866. 
