1887. ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 193 
dahlia. After an immersion of from half an hour to three or four hours, 
or even much longer, depending on the strength of the solution, it will be 
found that in many cases the nuclei are more or less deeply colored; and 
that the cell is not killed is evinced by the continuance of the protoplasmic 
streaming. It is quite surprising to see how deeply the nucleus is often 
stained without killing the cell. A nucleus so colored appears perfectly 
normal, there being no distortion or change beyond the change in color. 
As yet I have not studied especially what parts of the nucleus are colored, 
but it appears to be the nucleolus and microsomes only, as in the case of 
cells that have first been killed and then stained according to the ordinary 
methods. 
Among other objects that have given more or less satisfactory results 
were the hairs from the base of the perianth of Lilium bulbiferum; sta- 
men-hairs of Aspleodelus albus; leaves of Elodea Canadensis and Vallis- 
neria spiralis; root-hairs of Trianea Bogatensis, Cucurbita Pepo, Trades- 
 cantia zebrina; spermatozoids of Chara and a fern (probably Blechnum). 
{n all cases cells were chosen in which there was evident protoplasmic 
movement, in order that there might be a certain means of determining 
whether or not the cell was still living. 
Similar and usually quite as good results were also obtained with 
mauvein and methyl-violet, both colors closely resembling dahlia. Usually 
&.1% solution was made, and this diluted with from 50 to 1,000 parts of 
water, according to circumstances. Some doubtful results were obtained 
with other colors, but too uncertain to warrant recording.—Dove.as H. 
CAMPBELL, Tiibingen. 
The absorption of aniline colors by living cells.—About a year ago 
Pfeffer’ published the results of a rather extended series of experiments 
showing that, contrary to the ordinarily accepted idea, various aniline 
colors can be absorbed in large quantities by living cells. I wish here 
merely to call attention to some easily made but instructive experiments 
bearing on the subject. Pfeffer’s experiments were mostly made with 
methylen-blue and methyl-violet, though numerous other colors were 
also tried. Among colors not employed by him I found that dablia and 
Mauvein, both very similar to methyl violet, were quite as good and acted 
Much in the same way. The yellow color chrysoidin also gave good re- 
sults. No very satisfactory results were obtained with red pigments, 
though in some cases saf ranin, tropeeolin and fuchsin gave tolerably good 
coloring, but either it was too diffuse, or the cell-wall was more deeply 
colored than the contents. 
With methylen-blue either the cell-sap is colored, often very intensely, 
©. 8. root-hairs of Trianea Bogatensis, or a precipitate is formed in the cell- 
“ap, &. g., Spirogyra. If vesicles of tannic acid are present, as is the case 
eo ‘ i sa 
Anise tersuchungen aus dem botan. Institut in Tiibingen, 1886. ‘ Uber Aufnahme von 
nfarben in lebende Zellen.”’ 
