318 CHAPTER XXIV. 



p. 79). Chlorate of potash is mixed, in a watch-glass, with 

 four times its volume of nitric acid. A piece of muscle is 

 buried in the mixture for half an hour, and then agitated 

 with water in a test-tube, by which means it entirely breaks 

 up into isolated fibres. 



542. Nitric and Acetic Acid (APATHY, Zeit. f. wiss. Mik., x, 

 1898, p. 49). 3 vols. glacial acetic acid, 3 of nitric acid, and 

 20 each of water, glycerin, and absolute alcohol. Macerate 

 leeches for twenty-four hours, and bring them into 70 per 

 cent, alcohol, in which they swell ; then after twenty-four 

 hours, 50 per cent, glycerin, changed till the acid is re- 

 moved. 



543. Sulphuric Acid (RANVIER, Traite, p. 78). Macerate for 

 twenty-four hours in 30 grms. of water, to which are added 

 4 to 5 drops of concentrated sulphuric acid. Agitate. For 

 nasal mucosa, crystalline, retina, etc. 



ODENIUS found very dilute sulphuric acid to be the best 

 reagent for the study of nerve endings in tactile hairs. He 

 macerated hair-follicles for from eight to fourteen days in a 

 solution of from 3 to 4 grains of " English sulphuric acid " 

 to the ounce of water. 



Hot concentrated sulphuric acid serves to dissociate horny 

 epidermic structures (horn, hair, nails). 



544. Oxalic Acid. Maceration for many days in concen- 

 trated solution of oxalic acid has been found useful in the 

 study of nerve endings. 



545. SCHIEFFERDECKER'S Methyl Mixture (for the retina) 

 (Arch. f. mik. Anat., xxviii, 1886, p. 305). Ten parts of gly- 

 cerin, 1 part of methyl alcohol, and 20 parts of distilled 

 water. Macerate for several days (perfectly fresh tissue). 



546. Lysol (REINKE, Anat. Anz., viii, 1892, p. 582 ; Zeit. f. 

 wiss. Mik., x, 2, 1893, p. 224). Lysol is an industrial pro- 

 duct consisting in a solution of cresol in a neutral soap. 

 REINKE uses a 10 per cent, solution in distilled water or in 

 water containing alcohol and glycerin. Spermatozoa of the 

 rat or cortical cells of hairs are said to be resolved into fibrils 



