H&MATOXYLIN STAINING PROCESS 



37 



1. Watch-glass, containing say 10 c.c. diluted haematoxylin. 



2. Saucer, filled with water. 



3. Saltcellar, filled with alcohol. 



4. The covered porcelain box, containing about 20 c.c. oil of 

 cloves* or carbol- turpentine. 



Select a section from some one of your stock bottles, lifting it 

 out with the needle, and place it in the haematoxylin solution. The 



FIG. 17. 



DIAGRAM INDICATING THE SUCCESSIVE STEPS IN STAINING WITH 

 THE HAEMATOXYLIN SOLUTION. 



section, having been taken from alcohol and transferred to a 

 watery staining fluid, will twirl about on the surface of the latter, 

 inasmuch as currents are formed by the union of the water and the 

 spirit. 



"How long shall I let the section remain in the haematoxylin ? " 

 The only answer we can give is, "Until properly stained." Nothing 

 but experience will give you any more definite information. Much 

 depends upon some peculiar property in the tissues: some stain 

 rapidly, others stain very slowly. The strength of the dye is 

 another determining factor. Usually with the haematoxylin form- 

 ula, as given, from two to three minutes will suffice. 



Place the needle under the section (if the fluid be so opaque as 

 to hide the tissue, place the watch-glass over a piece of white paper 

 or a bit of mirror) and gently lift it out; drain off the adhering 

 drop of dye on the edge of the glass, and drop into the saucer of 

 water. Here we can judge as to the color, and we, perhaps, find it 

 to be of a light purple too light, so you may return it to the 

 haematoxylin for another period of two or three minutes, which 

 will probably give sufficient depth. 



As the section floats on the washing water, you will notice that 

 the latter will be colored by the dye, some of which leaves the 



*Although oil of cloves is the clearing agent mentioned throughout this book, it is to be 

 remembered that it dissolves celloidin, and that carbol -turpentine is preferable for sections if 

 they are delicate. 



