664 General Notes. 
MICROSCOPY. 
On Frxine SECTIONS TO THE SLIDE.—Schiillibaum’s collodion 
fixative is found to be unreliable when used with the more elaborate 
micro-chemical reactions to which our advanced technique subjects 
the sections on the slide before mounting. Thus, sections fixed in 
this manner drop off in absolute alcohol. Mayer’s albumen fixative 
is absolutely reliable, and shou e used whenever sections are 
loosely coherent in their parts. One cannot obtain neat results 
with this, except by means of a very even and thin film, to secure 
which proceed as follows: A small drop of fixative is spread on the 
slide with the ball of the index finger. Excess of fixative is removed 
The stronger alcohols evaporate too rapidly. The sections pla 
on this film flatten out beautifully and can’be shoved about if alco- 
hol enough be present. When the film has evaporated thin the 
sections stick with great pertinacity. Superfluous alcohol a 
removed with filter-paper, and the slide must then be evaporat 
to dryness. The thermostat at 40° C., for 1 to 2 hours, 1s a 
useful in securing this result. The paraffin should never be gre 
to melt. It is removed by turpentine, as for other fixatives. Cel- 
loidin sections stick well with this method.—J. Nelson, J. H. U. 
> or bot- 
4, end 
1 Edited by C. O. Whitman, Milwaukee. 
