92 The American Naturalist. [January, 
That this is the proper order of psychic evolution may be inferred 
from two considerations. (1) The sensations due to pressure, light, 
heat, hunger, ete. are experienced by animals of low as well as of high 
organization. (2) The order of structural evolution is from the homo- 
geneous to the heterogeneous, or from the generalized to the special. 
ized.—E. D. Corer. 
MICROSCOPY. 
Formal,’ (Formaldehyde 40 per cent. solution).—Practical 
experience with Formal in the Laboratory. By Bert B. Stroud, D. Sc., 
Instructor in Physiology, Vertebrate Zoology, and Neurology. Cornell 
University, Ithaca, N. Y 
During the past two years much interets has been shown concerning 
formaldehyde, as an agent for hardening and preserving anatomic 
material. An extensive literature has arisen, which as Lee’ has ob- 
served, is sadly confused by the indiscriminate and incorrect use of the 
terms Formol and Formalose. The term formol is a very bad one. 
Because according to the principles of chemical terminology the suf- 
fix ol is applied to a different class of compounds, examples of which 
are alcohol, glycerol, and phenol. 
The molecular structure of the aldehydes differs from that of the ex- 
amples given. 
Formalose might be confused with formose, a mixture of carbohydrates 
made from formaldehyde. Formalin is a term which has no meaning. 
We have to deal with a definite chemical individual; why then 
should it not be called by its own proper name or by a suitable contrac- 
tion of that name? It may be urged since the commercial product is 
a solution of gaseous formaldehyde in water, that the name should in- 
dicate such solution. But the term hydrochloric acid is an excellent 
precedent for saying formal or formaldehyde, since the acid of the 
laboratory is a solution of the gas HC1 in water. But every one calls 
the solution hydrochloric acid. 
1 The term Formaldehyde is a cumbersome one. Professor W. R. Orndorff has 
suggested that Formal, from Formal-dehyde is the best scientific contraction. 
The term Methanal, for formaldehyde, was adopted by the Geneva Congress of 
Chemists 
2 Formol or PAREL Anatomischer Anzeiger. XI, No. 8, October 24, 
1895, 8. 255-256 
