54 CULTURE METHODS AND TECHNIQUE 



A few drops of the mordant are placed upon each slip (pref- 

 erably supported by the cover slip forceps). The slip is held 

 cautiously high above a small flame until vaporization begins ; the 

 mordant is then washed off with water, followed by alcohol ; finally 

 the preparations are stained in anilin-water fuchsin, washed, dried, 

 and mounted in balsam. 



The modification of the above stain by Lowit is strongly rec- 

 ommended. This consists in substituting copper sulfate for the 

 iron salt. The preparations are generally mordanted from thirty 

 seconds to three minutes and washed. They may then be stained 

 in the anilin-gentian violet of Ehrlich and the surplus stain washed 

 out in water, 50 per cent alcohol, or acidulated alcohol. Freshly 

 prepared solutions both of the mordant and of the stain should be 

 employed. 



