1885.] Microscopy. 733 
guages, in Le Muséon, Vol. 111, 517-651; and Daniel G. Brinton 
publishes in the Proc. Am. Phil. Soc., No. 11 5, PP. 345-412, a 
grammar of the Cakchiquel language of Guatemala. 
MICROSCOPY :! 
Mayer’s Carsotic Acip SHELLAC.—Finding that ee oil and 
creosote produce fine granulations when used in ordinary 
shellac method, Dr. Paul Mayer has adopted a new pirer of 
dissolving the shellac, by which an excellent fixative is ob- 
tained that never shows any traces of Lepere The fixative 
is applied by a fine brush to the cold sl 
Mayer prepares the solution in the following manner : 
1. Dissolve one part of bleached shellac in five parts of abso- 
lute alcohol. 
2. Filter the solution and evaporate the alcohol on a water- 
bath. A yellowish residue quite stiff when cold is thus obtained. 
If any cloudiness arises during evaporation, the solution must be 
filtered again. 
3 Dissolve the shellac residue in pure carbolic acid on a water- 
bath. A concentrated solution of carbolic acid is obtained by 
exposing the crystals to the air until they dissolve, or by adding 
a small amount of water (about five per cent). 
uantity of acid should be sufficient to give a thickish 
liquid when cold. 
This fixative is painted on to the cold slide with a brush, at the 
time of using. The sections are then placed, and the slide left 
in the oven of a water-bath for some minutes (10-15 minutes I 
find sufficient). The carbolic acid is thus evaporated, leaving a 
perfectly transparent stratum of shellac on the slide. The sec- 
tions are next ae from paraffine in the ordinary way and 
mounted in balsa 
This method is considered to be the best and simplest for fix- 
ing stained section 
The shellac can te dissolved directly in carbolic acid, but then 
the fluid must stand a long time in order .to become clear, as it 
cannot be filtered. For this.reason it is preferable to dissolve 
first in alcohol. 
Note.—According to a note just received, Mayer now prepares the shellac as 
rae ellac is slice and heated with crystals of colorless carbolic acid until 
it iaeiei In filtering the funnel should be heated over a flame. It will filter 
slowly but quite i If it is too thick crystals of carbolic acid may be added 
until the desired consistency is reached. 
An ETHER FREEZING AppaRAtus.2~—A very simple and conve- 
nient little freezing apparatus, which can be used with almost any 
microtome, has recently been described by W. Emil Beecker. 
1 Edited by Dr. C. O. WHITMAN, Mus. Comp. Zool., Cambridge, Mass 
* Zeitschr. f. Instrumentenkunde. Apr., 7884, PP. 126-127. 
VOL. XIX.—NO. VII 48 
