152 Modern Microscopy 



Filter and keep in a stoppered bottle. Spread blood on 

 -cover-glass, dry, and immerse in stain for eleven minutes. 

 IVash in water, dry, and mount in Canada balsam. 



Fixing and Staining Sections on the Slide. 



Mayer's Albumen Method. — "White of egg 50 e.c, 

 glycerine 50 c.c, salicylate of soda 1 gramme ; shake well 

 together, and filter into a stoppered bottle. A thin layer 

 of the cement is spread on a slide with a brush, and the 

 section laid on it. Now warm gently on a water-bath. As 

 the paraffin melts it is carried away from the section by 

 the albumen. The section may now be washed with 

 "turpentine, benzole, and alcohol, and be treated with 

 .aqueous or other stains, without fear of it moving. 



Shellac Method. — Make a solution of shellac in absolute 

 .alcohol — it should be about the thickness of oil — filter, and 

 keep in a stoppered bottle. Warm some slides, and spread 

 ■over them a layer of the cement with a brush, and put away 

 io dry. When dry apply a very thin layer of creasote ; this 

 will form a sticky surface, on which the section must be 

 ■carefully laid. Now heat the slide on a water-bath for 

 about fifteen minutes at the melting-point of the paraffin ; 

 this will allow the section to come down on the shellac 

 film, and at the same time evaporate the creasote. Allow 

 the slide to cool, and wash away the paraffin with turpen- 

 tine or benzole. If the section has been stained in bulk, a 

 drop or two of Canada balsam is added, and a cover-glass 

 applied. 



To Stain a Section on the Slide. — Fix section on slide 

 as directed above. Wash away the paraffin with rectified 

 mineral naphtha, follow this quickly with a few drops of 

 methylated spirit, and then with some distilled water. 

 Now apply the stain, and place the slide under a bell-glass 

 to prevent evaporation ; or the slide may be plunged into a 

 vessel containing the staining solution. When sufficiently 

 stained, wash with distilled water, dehydrate with methy- 



