1895.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 173 



Common Acetic Acid IP. (fluid) 



Glycerine IP. " 



Sol. Chloral Hydrate (1 per cent aqueous) 

 6 P. " 



The staining fluid {b) has the following composition : 



Common Acetic Acid IP. (fluid) 



Ehrlich's Hffimatoxyline IP. " 



Sol. Chloral Hydrate (1 per cent, aqueous) 

 IP. 



Distilled water must be used in preparing the solution 

 of chloral, and the Ehrlich's h^matoxyline ought not to 

 be too fresh. 



Muscle bundles of which we are certain that they con- 

 tain nerve-endings of the thickness of a goose-quill (or 

 thinner) are left in a for about eighteen hours. From 

 this they are transferred into glycerine until they are 

 thoroughly saturated (one to two hours). The muscle- 

 bundles must now be split up still further, which is not 

 difficult to accomplish, especially if they are pressed flat 

 first between two plates of glass, so that pieces of the 

 thickness of a knitting-needle are obtained. These are 

 thrown into b, where they remain until they are deeply 

 stained, which may require anyway from three to ten 

 days. Inasmuch as the muscle is generally overstained, 

 it is of no importance if the tissues remain in the stain- 

 ing fluid longer than is absolutely necessary. 



It is of importance to remember to use both fluids in 

 sufficient quantity, so that the gelatinous substances are 

 thoroughly removed and do not interfere with the stain- 

 ing of the protoplasmic structures, ten times as much 

 fluid as tissue would seem about right ; but it is better 

 to have too much than too little. From time to time a 

 sample may be taken from the staining fluid and teased 

 out in acetic acid and glycerine to find out when the 

 staining process can be ended. If the nerves accompany- 



