APPENDIX 293 



epithelial cells ; endogenous cell-formations, in which the 

 nucleus has divided, but not the cell ; asymmetrical mitoses ; 

 degenerations of the cancer cells, particularly if the nucleus 

 is affected. Upon the whole, it may be said that the weight 

 of probability is on the side of the parasitic view, but its 

 influence on the tissues is at present unknown.' 



The pieces of tissue to be examined should, if possible, 

 be obtained fresh from the operating table, cut into very 

 small pieces, and immersed at once in absolute alcohol, 

 ■corrosive sublimate, or Flemming's solution (see Section D). 

 If either of the latter be used, hardening must be com- 

 pleted in alcohol. The pieces may then be imbedded in 

 paraffine or celloidine, and sections cut and stained. 



Hsematoxyline stain alone, or better with eosine or rose 

 bengale double-staining, gives good results, especially after 

 hardening in Plemming's solution. The parasites show a 

 different tone of blue from the cell-nuclei. 



By Eussell's method the sections are stained for ten 

 minutes in saturated solution of fuclisine in 20 per cent, 

 carbolic acid, washed for a few minutes in water and then 

 for half a minute in absolute alcohol, and transferred for 

 five minutes to a 1 per cent, solution of iodine green 

 (Griibler's) in 2 per cent, carbolic acid. The sections are 

 then rapidly dehydrated in absolute alcohol, cleared in oil 

 of cloves, and mounted in balsam. The ' parasites ' appear 

 purple or red, the tissue-cells blue ; but unfortunately some 

 other bodies also stain red and may lead to mistakes. 



The Ehrlich-Biondi triple stain, which gave beautiful 

 results in the hands of Buffer and Walker, had better be 

 bought prepared by Griibler of Leipsic, as it is rather hard 

 to make properly. The following was the method em- 

 ployed by the observers just mentioned : — 1 grm. of 



' For review of the general arguments in favour of a parasitic origin of 

 ■cancer, see Ann. of Surg., vol. xvii.pt. i (April 1893), p. 478. 



