1897.] Microscopy. 465 
Another reason for naming the original fluid “formol” might 
be that this is the oldest name for the watery solution of formalde- 
hyde (Trillas) and that on its introduction into microscopic and pre- 
serving technique by my father and myself it was called “formol. ” 
The law of priority therefor supports “ formol.” . 
The term “ formal” is suited only to increase confusion. 
In regard to Stroud’s observations which are often contradictory of 
those of European workers—which he seems to have overlooked—I 
wish to remark that the behavior of formol towards egg albumen was 
a long while ago thoroughly studied by me, and that in a series of pub- 
lications I have demonstrated that egg or sero albumen is not only not 
coagulated by formol, but on the contrary is, in a sense, rendered more 
fluid, since a compound, methylen-albumen, is formed that never coag- 
ulates even upon the solution being heated. This non-coagulating 
methylen-albumen I have designated “ protogen,” and have described 
its behavior in the test tube as well as in the organism. 
To avoid the bad effect of formol on some tissues, which Stroud 
describes, it is only necessary to employ a more concentrated solution. 
To the 10 per cent. (formol 1., water 9) solution originally recommend- 
ed by me a small addition of alcohol may sometimes be made advant- 
ageously.—Dr. F. BLUM. 
The Name of Formal.—To THE Eprror.—In answer to “A 
Protest,” on pp. 267-268 of the March, 1897, number of THE AMERI- 
CAN NATURALIST, against my use of the terms Formal, ete., as given 
in the January number, if “A Comparative Anatomist ” will consult. 
an elementary text-book on Organic Chemistry he will learn : 
1. That there is a good precedent for applying the term Formal to 
the compound H-CHO, and the very best authority for applying the 
suffix -al to any aldehyde, e. g., Chloral CCl,,CHO, Trichloracetic 
aldehyde, ete. . 
2. That the very example he quotes disproves the point he seeks to 
make, 
` The term acetal is derived “ from acetic and aldehyde (Foster’s Ency- 
clopedic Medical Dictionary, Vol. I, p. 22). In the article,“ Chemical 
Nomenclature,” Dictionary of Chemistry, by Henry Watts, London, 
1866, Vol. IV, p. 133, this statement occurs: “ -al abbreviation of 
aldehyde. Ex. Butyral=Butyric aldehyde ; Valeral=Valeric alde- 
hyde.” To this it may be added that the highest authority in the world, 
namely, The Geneva Congress of Chemists, adopted the following : 
“Resolution 32. Aldehydes will be designated by the suffix -al (Me- 
32 
