1884.] 



MICEOSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



113 



cessfully for some time. For ordi- 

 nary use a solution in alcohol con- 

 taining about two per cent, of the 

 compound is about right, but when 

 a large number of oi'ganisms is to be 

 killed in a large vessel, the solution 

 should be stronger. 



The animals fall to the bottom, and 

 the water should then be drawn oft" 

 above them. Fol then adds some 

 seventy per cent, alcohol, and re- 

 places this in turn with alcohol slightly 

 acidified with hydrochloric acid, 

 which removes all trace of the iron 

 salt. This should be immediately 

 drawn oft' and pure alcohol added 

 (probably no alcohol stronger than 

 seventy per cent, is used, although it 

 is not so stated). 



It is said that the animals are thus 

 fixed very perfectly in their expanded, 

 living condition, and that the results 

 are better than with picro-sulphuric, 

 osmic, chromic or acetic acids, or 

 with corrosive sublimate. 



The Postal Microscopical 

 Club. — The notices of the boxes 

 which have appeared in these col- 

 umns regularly this year have been 

 given with a definite purpose aside 

 from that of merely recording what 

 they contain. It seems as though the 

 club has the facilities for spreading 

 information abroad in a manner that 

 should prove, and can be made to 

 prove, of great value to a large mem- 

 bership. We have observed with 

 great satisfaction the systematic man- 

 ner in which the details of work have 

 been conducted by the present ofti- 

 cers. Probably few of the members 

 fully appreciate how much is due to 

 their eftbrts, which have been made, 

 we are sure, at no little" sacrifice of 

 time, not to speak of the labor in- 

 volved. The affairs of the club are 

 very ably managed. The value of 

 its work is now absolutely dependent 

 upon the contributions of individual 

 members. The purpose of these ar- 

 ticles is partly, and we may say main- 

 ly, to improve the quality and general 



character of the work done b}' mem- 

 bers of the club. 



The notices thus far given have 

 been more or less critical. Such crit- 

 icisms as have been offered have been 

 impartial, and commendation has 

 been freely given when deserved. 

 We would have it known that every 

 person who contributes a good mount 

 will receive the credit due for it in 

 these columns. But among the slides 

 that reach us too many are unwoi'thy 

 of acceptance by the club. This is 

 frequently not because the contribu- 

 tors are unable to send better ones, 

 but because they are unwilling to do 

 so. It is said that inferior prepara- 

 tions should be received because the 

 object of the club is to foster a taste 

 for microscopical work, and begin- 

 ners should be encouraged to con- 

 tribute according to their abilities. 

 Far be it from us to say anything in 

 opposition to such a praiseworthy 

 spirit. It accords too well with the 

 principle upon which this Journal 

 is and always has been conducted. 

 But when we find pi^eparations in the 

 boxes from persons who have been 

 using the microscope for years, that 

 are utterly worthless either from care- 

 less preparation or absence of a few 

 easily written words of explanation, 

 it seems time there should be a 

 change. Too often such prepara- 

 tions are contributed from among 

 discarded slides that are not deemed 

 good enough to be kept in private 

 cabinets. Yet the persons who send 

 them out doubtless joined the club 

 for the benefit they hoped to derive 

 from seeing the work of others. They 

 contribute worthless stuff', expecting 

 to receive in return good mounts for 

 examination. So much inferior ma- 

 terial has been contributed in this 

 way that the boxes are not what they 

 should be. We hope to see early in- 

 provement in this respect. If one 

 cannot mount well, he can at least 

 select an object of interest and de- 

 scribe it with care ; and the mount 

 may be made free from dirt even by 

 a novice. 



