PEESEEVATIVE FLUIDS FOR FISHES AND REPTILES. 81 



Intimately mix, set aside, let settle, and wlien clear, decant 

 and preserve in stoppered bottles. Tlie following might also 

 be tried: 



No. 28. — CampJiorated Fluid for Preserving Fishes, &c. 



To distilled water, sixteen parts, add one part of rectified 

 spirits of wine and a few drops of creosote, sufficient to 

 saturate it ; stir in a small quantity of best prepared chalk, 

 and then filter. With this fluid mix an equal quantity of 

 camphor water (water saturated with camphor), and before 

 using, strain off through very fine muslin. 



The bisulphite of lime (see formula No. 11, ante) would also, 

 no doubt, be excellent as a preservative for fishes if not quite 

 so much diluted. Chloride of zinc, much diluted, is recom- 

 mended as a good preservative. 



Dr. Priestley Smith's formula (see No. 14, ante) would do 

 exceedingly well for small specimens to be subsequently arranged 

 in glass-topped tanks, as at the British Museum. 



Another formula, sometimes used in the medical schools for 

 preserving parts of subjects, and useful as a pickle for fish 

 and reptiles, is a preparation called Holler's Solution : 



No. 29.— Mailer's Solution. 



Bichromate of potash, 2oz. | Sulphate of soda, loz. 



Distilled water, 3 pints. 



A saturated solution of chromic acid is also used for the 

 same purposes. The chief disadvantage which both this and 

 Moller's Solution possess in common is their colour — a rich 

 golden one — ^which, of course, stains everything with which they 

 come in contact. This, however, is easily removable by the 

 Hydi-ate of Chloral formula (see Priestley Smith's formula, 

 No. 14, Section 2, ante). 



This last (Moller's Solution) I have kept purposely until 

 the end, as it is the formula which, in my opinion, fulfils all 

 the four requirements stated in the opening paragraph, as 

 desirable in the preservation of the lower vertebrates. On 

 my appointment to the curatorship of the Leicester Museum 

 I had occasion to overhaul the "pickles" and prepare some 

 fresh specimens, and was very loth to use expensive spirits, 



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