PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
57 
rays at the desired angle could be obtained. The paper was illustrated 
by diagrams showing the methods of procedure in the various cases. 
Ordinary Meeting, May 26, 1876.— T. Charters White, Esq., 
M.R.C.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 
Mr. Curties read a communication from Professor H. L. Smith, 
of Hobart College, New York, " On a New Method of Mounting 
Microscopical Objects." The process was applicable to either opaque 
or transparent dry objects, requiring cells. For mounting an opaque 
object, a circular disk of black or dark-coloured wax, of the kind used 
in the manufacture of wax flowers, was punched out to form the bottom, 
while the wall of the cell was made of a ring of brass wire of suitable 
diameter and substance, imbedded in the wax, which was attached to 
the slide by gentle heat. The cell was finished with Brunswick 
black, on a turn-table. Objects, such as Foraminifera, could be attached 
in any position to the wax bottom by softening it with a minute drop 
of turpentine. The cover, which was to be a little smaller than the 
ring, so as to be flush with the top when pressed down, could then be 
put on, and the cell finished with Brunswick black without any danger 
of its running in. For transparent objects, rings of wax were used 
instead of disks, the method of proceeding being the same. Minute 
details of each stage of the process were given, and specimens pre- 
sented to the club. 
Mr. Ingpen described an old and very interesting microscope by 
Amici, which was formerly in the Stow Collection of the Duke of 
Buckingham. The form was that afterwards adopted by Chevalier, 
and better known by his name, in which the rays are bent at right 
angles by a prism. The instrument possessed a micrometric stage, an 
achromatic objective, and various pieces of apparatus, and its work- 
manship was much admired. 
A communication from Dr. Frances Elizabeth Hoggan, " On a New 
Process of Histological Staining," was read by the Secretary. This 
process was applicable to tissues either fresh, frozen, or hardened by 
picric acid or alcohol, but not by chloride of gold or any chromate. 
The agents used were a 2 per cent, solution of perchloride of iron, 
and a solution of pyrogallic acid of similar strength, in distilled water, 
or, preferably, in alcohol. The sections were to be first treated for 
one or two minutes with alcohol, then for about the same time with 
the iron solution, and finally with the acid solution, until the required 
depth of tint was obtained, when they could be mounted in balsam, 
glycerine, or varnish. It was recommended to filter the solutions at 
the time of use. Nuclei and nucleoli were coloured black by this 
process, rendering them very distinct when examined by lamplight ; 
the cell substance was also coloured more or less, according to the age 
and other conditions of the tissues. The colour could be rendered 
bluish by washing in slightly alkaline water. The process could be 
used in conjunction with silver staining, and was deemed particularly 
suitable for photographic purposes. It had also the advantage of 
being very rapid, only occupying a few minutes. Specimens mounted 
in glycerine and in copal varnish were exhibited at the meeting. 
