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VII.— DISSECTION ROUTINE FOR ACARINE 

 INFESTATION. 



Various enquirers have consulted me as to the best 

 methods of examining bees for the accurate demonstra- 

 tion of Acarine infestation. These rightly desire not 

 merely to break up the thorax of the bee and to trust 

 to finding mites amongst the teased tissues, but to 

 effect such a dissection as will demonstrate the extent 

 of the infestation and the degree of deterioration of the 

 tracheal tubes. In view of the desirability of having as 

 many properly qualified experts throughout the country 

 as possible, I have pleasure in offering the following 

 assistance. The method described has been found per- 

 fectly satisfactory and easy of performance after a 

 little practice. I need hardly add that students who 

 have had some previous practice in minute dissection 

 will have no difficulty in carrying out the operations 

 and may modify the details to their own satisfaction 

 as their experience increases. 



(a) Requisites. 



(1) Any ordinary type of compound microscope, 

 having |-in. and ^in. objectives, 



(2) A supply of glass microscope slides and No. 2 

 coverslips. 



(3) A good pipette, with rubber bulb of good quality, 

 similar in size to an ordinary fountain pen filler. 



(4) One or two needles securely mounted on handles. 

 These can be obtained both with smooth and with 

 cutting edges. Both kinds will be found useful. 



(5) One or more fine scalpels with narrow or arrow 

 headed two edged blades. These must be kept sharp 

 and clean. 



(6) An ordinary forceps such as is used in dissecting. 



(7) A hand lens, or better, for those whose eyesight 

 is not very good, a set of magnifying binoculars. 



(8) A small clean bottle containing water. One with 

 neck just sufficiently wide to admit the pipette is best. 



(9) A similar bottle containing weak glycerine will 



