556 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
and methods of staining. It is divided into three sections. The first 
treats of general methods, the examination of dried plants, macera- 
tion, swelling, clearing, methods of fixing and staining, &c. The second 
part discusses micro-chemistry, and the reagents for the various substances 
found in the vegetable kingdom. Iu the third section we have a detailed 
treatise on the methods of investigation for the cell* wall and the various 
inclosed substances, and for the differentiation of the protoplasmic 
constituents. A supplement treats of the methods of investigation of 
bacteria ; and the whole concludes with a copious bibliography and a 
very full index. The wood-block illustrations, both those which belong 
to the first part, and those which depict the appearances presented under 
the Microscope by the use of reagents, are exceedingly good and clear, 
most of them new. 
Cl) Collecting- Objects, including- Culture Processes. 
Automatic Device for Rolling Culture Tubes of Nutrient Agar- 
Agar.* — Prof. G. F. Atkinson describes a process which he has found 
successful for rolling culture-tubes of agar-agar under a continuous 
shower of cold water instead of using ice for the purpose. The appa- 
ratus consists of a tin jacket, with rectangular perforations and brist- 
ling with “ paddles,” which grasps the tube, and upon which the stream 
of water is so directed that it furnishes not only the motive power for 
whirling the tube, but also the cold bath to solidify the agar-agar. 
The mode of making and using the jacket is described in detail. 
Bacteriological Technique.f — Dr. G. H. F. Nuttall says that in many 
cases the ordinary loop made of platinum wire does not work well 
because it bends, and advises the use of a stitfer instrument such as 
he has invented. This resembles a small spear, is made of wire 1 mm. 
thick, beaten out at the free end into a triangular flattish extremity, in 
the centre of which is a teardrop-shaped perforation (see fig. 64). 
Fig. 04. 
(2) For examination of drop cultivations the author advises the 
following method which is very convenient and less tiring to the eyes 
than that in vogue, as by its adoption focusing is much facilitated. 
A thin black ring composed of lampblack and blood-serum is run 
round a cover-glass by means of the turntable. The cover-glass is 
then sterilized in the usual manner and the drop placed in the middle 
of the ring. As it is easy to focus the ring and as the organisms lie 
in the same plane, the latter are easily found by merely pushing the 
preparation along. 
(3) Test-tubes may be closed with flat discs of paraffin made by 
* Bot. Gazette, xvii. (1892) pp. 154-6 (1 pi. and 1 fig.), 
t Centralbl. f. Bukteriol. u. Parasitenk., xi. (1892) pp. 538-40 (2 figs.). 
