1896.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURlSrAL. 33 



Grenacher's, and which I have alluded to above, is made as 

 follows: — Carmine 3 grammes; borax, 4 grammes; distilled 

 water, 85 c. c. ; rectified spirit, 115 c. c. Dissolve the borax in 

 the water, add the carmine, and heat in a flask until the mix- 

 ture just boils. Cool the solution, and add gradually the recti- 

 fied spirit ; after twenty-four hours, filter. This method obvi- 

 ates any necessity for an upright condenser. At first sight the 

 borax would appear to be in excess, but the proportions given 

 are necessary to dissolve the carmine. The solution stains well, 

 and is sufficiently alcoholic for most purposes. 



I have gone into this matter somewhat fully, for although 

 there are many far better nuclear stains, notably hsematoxylin 

 and some aniline dyes, there is none as good as borax carmine 

 for staining cellulose. 



Note on a Spirit-Proof Micro-Cement. — Every one here 

 will know the great importance of a thoroughly reliable cement 

 for fluid mounts. All cements which become quite dry and 

 hard in time are then also slightly porous, and allow the fluid to 

 evaporate slowly through the pores. Asphalt, on this account, 

 is quite useless for fluid mounts, and even Miller's caoutchouc 

 cement can only be depended upon for a time. After a few 

 years it becomes quite dry, and sooner or later an air bubble 

 appears in the mount. 



It is my pleasure this evening to announce the discovery of a 

 cement which is not only reliable for objects in watery fluids, 

 but which will also keep in j)ermanently strong and even abso- 

 lute alcohol. I do not mean to imply, however, that I have my- 

 self discovered the cement in question. I have only discovered 

 its existence, which seems almost as great a merit, for it has been 

 used by some for the last fifteen or sixteen years, and yet the 

 fact of its existence has not penetrated to our Microscopical 

 Societies in London. Dr. Dallinger's '• Carpenter " recommends 

 the periodical addition of a layer of cement to prevent its becom- 

 ing quite dry, and only knows Lovett's, a very troublesome 

 cement for spirit mounts. Mr. Bolles Lee, in his latest (1893) 

 edition of the " Microtomist's Vade Mecum," says, in speaking 

 of alcohol as a preservative fluid : " Not very recommendable 

 for mounting, as if taken weak it is not a very efficient preserv- 

 ative, and if taken strong it attacks the cement of the mount s." 



