68 THE MICROSCOPIST. 



Lime-water or baryta-water is used for investigating con- 

 nective structures, especially tendon, as maceration en- 

 ables the needle to divide its fibril] a. 



Chloride of Sodium. Solutions of this salt for indifferent 

 media should always have some colloid, as albumen or 

 gum-arabic added (7.5 grains in 1000 grains of water for 

 delicate structures). 



Bichromate of potash is used in stronger solution for the 

 same purposes as chromic acid. 



Mutter's eye-fluid for hardening the retina, and preserv- 

 ing delicate embryos, etc., consists of bichromate of potass,, 

 2 grammes ; sulphate of soda, 1 gramme ; distilled water, 

 100 grammes. 



Alcohol dissolves resins and many vegetable coloring 

 matters ; renders most vegetable preparations more trans- 

 parent, and albuminous animal tissues more opaque. 



Acetic acid and alcohol, 1 part of each to 2 of water, 

 renders connective tissue transparent, and albuminoid tis- 

 sue prominent. The proportions can be varied. 



Alcohol and soda (8-10 drops of strong solution of caustic 

 soda to each ounce) renders many tissues very hard and 

 transparent. Beale recommends it for embryonic struc- 

 tures. 



Ether dissolves resins, oils, and fat. 



Turpentine renders dried animal sections transparent. 



Oil of cloves acts as turpentine. 



Solution of chloride of zinc, iodine, and iodide of potassium, 

 is recommended by Schacht as a substitute for iodine and 

 sulphuric acid to color vegetable cells, etc. Zinc is dis- 

 solved in hydrochloric acid, and the solution is evaporated 

 to syrupy consistence in contact with metallic zinc. This 

 is saturated with iodide of potassium, iodine added, and 

 the solution diluted with water. Wood cells, after boiling 

 in caustic potash, are stained blue by it. 



Boracic acid, used by Prof. Brucke to separate the ele- 

 ments of red blood-corpuscles. 



