1887. ] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 51 
be used in clearing sections stained for bacteria by Gram’s method or by the 
simple anilin colors. The oil must be thoroughly removed from the section 
in mounting, for any superfluous portion tinges the balsam a light yellow 
color. The oil is easily removed from the section, after it has been placed 
on the slide, by pressing a piece of filter paper folded several times on it, as 
in blotting a sheet of letter-paper. 
AX ylol, Creasote and Oil of Bergamot.—Merck’s xylol does not dissolve 
celloidin, but unless absolute alcohol is used in dehydration the sections clear 
slowly and are much corrugated. Beech-wood creasote is recommended by 
Flesch.* In this country creasote is variable in its composition, some 
varieties dissolving the celloidin completely. Only one of four samples 
which have been tested does not dissolve the celloidin and has an acid re- 
action. Oil of bergamot clears sections rapidly and does not affect the cel- 
loidin; it, however, removes the color completely from eosin-stained speci- 
mens. Thus far the most satisfactory of the reagents tested at the labo- 
ratory for clearing sections without dissolving the celloidin from them is Ol. 
Origani Cretici. 
EDITORIAL. 
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION for the Buffalo meet- 
ing last summer are at hand, and with a truly partisan spirit we turn at once 
to the papers upon biological topics. We must admit that we are somewhat 
disappointed to find that the papers of deep interest are few, compared with 
what our biological workers are doing, and, with partisan spirit again, that 
the interesting papers reported are mainly, though by no means wholly, bo- 
tanical, while zoological topics are much more weakly represented. For the 
activity of the botanists we most heartily commend them, and we think their 
example might well be imitated by other portions of the Association. The 
botanists have formed themselves into a club, which has its bonds of special 
interest, and links them closer to the Association, and insures the presence at 
its meetings of a large number of interested members. 
We are not mistaken in judging that one of the greatest benefits which re- 
sults from the Association to science is secured through the influence of per- 
sonal contact between enthusiastic workers and others who have somewhat 
cooled. These latter form an audience which stimulates and helps the enthu- 
siasts, and they themselves are again inflamed and blaze up into rekindled en- 
thusiasm, which is not a mere instantaneous burst to be succeeded by even 
greater quiet. The man who has been forced to isolation, and has thus lost 
his old impetus, has his strength renewed by these annual gatherings. The 
botanists have done well in forming a club which, by its drawing, in addition 
to the call of the Association, wiil bring back some who need to have their 
fires rekindled. 
We should be glad to see other sections, and particularly that of zoology, 
form a similar organization to attract a larger number of our zoologists, and 
improve the attendance as well as the interest. We miss from the roll of 
members in attendance many of the men whose zoological work is the finest 
done in the United States. We do not mean this to be understood as univer- 
sally true, for there are many who were present who are properly recognized 
as.leaders in that field ; but we think all will agree that the attendance of zoolo- 
gists was by no means what it should be to properly represent zoology. If the 
* Zeitschrift fiir Wissenschaftliche Mikroscopie tind fiir Mik. Technik, Bandi, vol. iv. 
