MICROSCOPICAL DIAGNOSIS. 19 



BEALE'S CARMINE. 



Carmine, 10 grains. 



Strong liquor ammoniae, ^ drachm. 



Glycerine, 2 ounces. 



Distilled water, 2 ounces. 



Alcohol, Y-Z ounce. 



The carmine, in small fragments, is placed in a test-tube, and 

 the ammonia added to it. By agitation and by the aid of heat, the 

 carmine is dissolved. The ammoniacal solution is boiled a few 

 seconds, and then allowed to cool. After the lapse of an hour, 

 much of the excess of ammonia will have escaped. The glycerine 

 and the water are added, and the whole passed through a filter, and 

 allowed to stand for some time, when the clear supernatant fluid is 

 poured off and kept for use. 



Woodward's carmine, modified from Tiersch, is prepared as fol- 

 lows: 



Best carmine, 15 grains. 

 Borax, i drachm. 

 Water, 5^ ounces. 

 Alcohol (95 p. c.), ii ounces. 



Mix and filter. The filtrate should be thrown away. On the 

 filter will remain the crystals. The filter, with the crystals, is placed 

 in a mortar and thoroughly mixed with 8 ounces of water. This 

 solution is filtered, and the filtrate evaporated to 4 ounces, when it 

 is ready for use. After the section is stained a lilac color, taking 

 from 30 seconds to one minute, it is placed in a fixing solution com- 

 posed of 



Hydrochloric acid, i part. 



Alcohol (95 p. c.), 4 parts. 



Here it is allowed to remain until the lilac color changes to a 

 rose red. 



Hsematoxylin. Make a saturated solution of crystallized calcic 

 chloride in 70 p. c. of alcohol. Shake and let it stand. Add alum 

 to excess. Shake well, let it stand, and then filter. Make a satu- 

 rated solution of alum in 70 p. c. alcohol. Add this to the above 

 filtrate in the proportion of 8 to i. To this mixture add, drop by 

 drop, a saturated solution of haematoxylin in absolute alcohol, until 



