1048 SUMMARY OF CUERENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



5 ccm. to 100 of the salt.) The test-tube is then placed in a water-bath, 

 and the contents dissolved at boiling-point. It is left for ten minutes in the 

 hot water and then removed and allowed to cool gradually, or it may be cooled 

 rapidly by plunging it in cold water. A small crystal of soda acetate is 

 then dropped in, when, owing to its supersaturation, it at once crystallizes. 

 By repeating this two or three times the rock is quite reduced to powder. 

 However, very refractory rocks, such as those from Jutland, require five or 

 six repetitions. The next step merely consists in adding water to excess to 

 dissolve out the salt. Another substance, the hyposulphite of soda, may 

 be used for the same purpose. The hyposulphite of soda and some bits of 

 rocks are mixed up in a test-tube and heated in a water-bath to 48°. The 

 salt deliquesces, and then having been allowed to cool, a small crystal is 

 dropped in. Water is then added in excess to dissolve out the salt. Of 

 course the operation must be repeated until the rock is properly pulverized. 

 The foregoing methods, the first of which is preferred by the author, 

 are simpler than the sulphate of soda method of Brun. 



HuEPPE, F.— Cover-glass Preparations in Bacteriological Investigations. 



Amer. Mon. Micr, Journ., VIII. (1887) pp. 190-4, from Hueppe's 

 * Methods of Bacteriological Investigation,' transl. by Dr. H. M. Biggs (New York). 

 Ja MES, F. L. — Preparing Crystals of Salicine. — Eeferring to the note at p. 507, Dr. F. L. 

 James further writes : — 



" When, some months ago, I made note of the fact that I had hit upon the method 

 of reduplicating the astonishingly beautiful slides of salicine accidentally made 

 some years ago, I had little idea of the possibilities of that alkaloid in the way 

 of strange and gorgeous groupings. Some of my later experiments in this 

 direction have resulted in slides utterly throwing into the shade all former 

 successes. The human eye never before dwelt on so wonderful and gorgeous 

 phenomena as are presented in some of these latest slides. All laws and rules 

 of crystallization seem to be set aside, and the material runs riot in its bewildering 

 forms and combinations. The most beautiful auroras and most brilliant pyro- 

 technics fade into insignificance alongside some of the latest results." 



St. Louis Med. and Surg. Journ., LIII. (1887) pp. 166-7. 

 QuiMBY, B. F. — Insect Preparation. II. 



[Mounting — mounting insects as opaque objects.] 



Microscope, VII. (1887) pp. 266-9. 



(3) Cutting-, including' Imbedding. 

 Myrtle Wax Imbedding Process.* — Myrtle wax, or bayberry tallow, 

 writes Mr. J. W. Blackburn, is a substance derived from Myrica cerifera. 

 The wax is found covering the fruit as a whitish coat, and is separated by 

 boiling the berries in water and removing the wax on cooling. It is of a 

 pale greyish-green colour, somewhat diaphanous, brittle, slightly unctuous 

 to the touch, is feebly aromatic, and a little bitter to the taste. Its specific 

 gravity is about that of water, and its melting-point 46° '6 C.-48°-8 C. 

 (116°-120° F.). It is insoluble in water, scarcely soluble in cold alcohol, 

 soluble except about 13 per cent, in 20 parts boiling alcohol, which deposits 

 the greater part of it on cooling. It is also soluble in boiling ether, and 

 slightly so in oil of turpentine. It is very soluble in chloroform benzol 

 and xylol. The foregoing account is descriptive of the true product of 

 Myrica cerifera, but for the purposes of the microtomist it will not answer. 

 A variety must be obtained which is yellowish-white in colour, tougher 

 and softer. This variety is probably the product of Bhus succedanea Ln., 

 and should be called " Japan wax." 



Dr. M. N. Miller, who first described this method,| states that " bayberry 

 tallow is firm and solid at ordinary temperature, and is solid in warm 

 alcohol." He states that specimens may be removed from the alcohol in 



* Amer. Mon. Micr. Journ., viii. (1887) pp. 164-5. 

 t N. York. Med. Record, xxvii. (1885) p. 429. 



