ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
81 
several of tlie bichromate of silver methods. Of this number, scarcely 
more than 15 or 20 per cent, were found to be satisfactorily impreg- 
nated. One of the best of the methods was the use of sulphate of 
copper and hematoxylin with brains hardened in from 10 to 20 per cent, 
formol for a day or more ; 40 parts of 10 per cent, potassium bichro- 
mate, 40 parts of 5 per cent, sulphate of copper, and 20 narts of formol, 
gave also good results. As the author not unnaturally remarks, the 
bichromate of potash was quite unnecessary. The hematoxylin mixture 
that gave the best results was one that contained phosphomolybdic acid. 
Of this, 1 ccm. 10 per cent, solution was added to 1 grm. of hematoxylin 
crystals, 6-10 grm. chlorate hydrate, and 100 ccm. of water. For im- 
pregnation with bichromate of silver, the rapid method of Cajal was at 
first employed, but was set aside, as it was discovered that one in which 
the osmic acid is replaced by formol gives a much more transparent 
background for the darkened fibres and cells. On the whole, the 
author’s preparations were comparatively free from precipitates and 
crystals. The nitrate of silver was employed in strengths ranging from 
5 per cent, to 2 per cent. A solution of 1 per cent, was adopted for 
leaving the specimens in over-night, or until Dr. Kenyon was ready to 
make sections of them. 
Method for Demonstrating Blastomycetes in Neoplasms.* — Dr. E. 
Aievole fixes the tissue in absolute alcohol, and then saturates small 
pieces with xylol. After imbedding in paraffin, sections are made, and 
these stuck on slides by means of albumen. The paraffin is then ex- 
tracted with xylol and the latter with absolute alcohol. The sections 
are then immersed in Ehrlich’s solution for 10-20 minutes. After 
having been washed with distilled water, they are treated with 0 • 5 per 
cent, oxalic acid, and again washed in distilled water. Thereupon they 
are decolorised in absolute alcohol, and next immersed in 1 per cent, 
aqueous safranin for 2-3 minutes. After washing again in distilled 
water, they are dehydrated in absolute alcohol, cleared up in xylol, and 
mounted in xylol -balsam. By this method the parasites are stained 
blue or violet, and the nuclei of the cells red. 
New Method for Examination of Blood. f — Dr. J. Arnold describes 
a method which possesses many advantages for examining blood. Steri- 
lised thin disks of elder-pith are soaked in a drop of the blood to be 
examined, and so placed in the hollow of a ground-out slide that the 
moistened side of the disk (sic) adheres to the cover-glass. The advan- 
tages claimed are that the blood is protected from pressure and evapora- 
tion, and the effect of chemical and colouring reagents can be tested 
on the dried disks. Besides this, the disks may be imbedded and 
sectioned, and treated in various ways suitable for microscopical inves- 
tigation. The method is also recommended for the study of fibrin- 
formation. 
Connections of Neurones. J — Herr Semi Meyer recommends the 
following method : — A newly-born guinea-pig is subcutaneously injected, 
* Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., l te Abt., xx. (1896) pp. 745-9 (1 pi.). 
t Centralbl. f. All^em. Pathol, u. Pathol. Anat., vii. p. 17. See Centralbl. f. 
Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., l te Abt., xx. (1890) p. 825. 
I Arch. f. Mikr. Anat., xlvii. (1896) pp. 734-48 (1 pi.). 
1897 
G 
