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SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
By this method the fibres are much blacker and the substance a dark 
orange. 
Pal's Modification of Weigert's Method was brought out about three 
or four years ago. The hardening process in this method is extended to 
a longer period, sometimes up to six months. After staining the 
sections in the hseraatoxylin solution, they are rapidly washed in water, 
and transferred to a 1/4 per cent, solution of permanganate of potash till 
there is a differentiation, then into a watery solution of potassium 
sulphite 1 per cent., oxalic acid 1 per cent. ; this bleaches all but the 
medullated fibres, which appear quite black ; carmine can then be used. 
Success with this method is harder to obtain than with Weigert’s 
procedure. It does not show the different forms of fibres so well, but is 
useful on account of the double stain. 
Schafer's Improvement of Pal's Method. — The material is hardened 
from four to six weeks, and, after cutting, the sections are put into 
Marchi’s fluid (1 part of a 1 per cent, solution of osmic acid, and 2 parts 
of a 3 per cent, solution of potassium bichromate). Then wash quickly 
in water and stain with the hsematoxylin solution (hsematoxylin 1 grm., 
acetic acid 2 ccm., water 100 ccm.). Develope afterwards as by Pal’s 
method. 
This is a very good method for quickening the hardening process, 
and for sections which have been too long in alcohol after potassium 
bichromate. 
Marchi's Method for Degenerate Medullated Fibres. — Harden several 
pieces in a 3 per cent, solution of potassium bichromate for a week, 
then cut a thin slice and put in Marchi’s fluid for a week. Imbed in 
celloidin, section, and develope. 
By this method only the degenerate fibres are stained black. 
Lewis's Method for Staining Cortical Cells by Anilin Plue-black . — 
Sections are made from a fresh brain, frozen, stained by * 25 aqueous 
solution for one hour, afterwards washed in water, and developed. 
Golgi's Method. — The material is hardened in potassium bichromate, 
put into a solution of silver nitrate, and then washed in water: The 
sections are dehydrated in alcohol, and mounted in Canada balsam. 
Imbedding for Examining Tissues for Tubercle Bacilli.* — Sig. G. 
Cirincione dehydrates the material to be sectioned in absolute alcohol 
and then transfers it for twelve hours to bergamot oil. It is then 
soaked in melted cacao butter for 24 hours and kept at a temperature 
of 35° C. Thus impregnated the mass is set by cooling under a stream 
of water. It is then quite ready for cutting, which in summer should 
be done immediately. The sections are next transferred to bergamot 
oil which dissolves out the cacao butter, and then to absolute alcohol, 
after which they may be stained in the usual manner. The advantages 
of this method are that micro-organisms contained in the tissues are 
not exposed to physical or chemical damage during manipulation, that 
it is expeditious, and that it stains “ plasma-cells ” quite well. 
Method for Making Paraffin Sections from Preparations stained 
with Ehrlich’s Methylen-blue.t — Mr. G. H. Parker, at the suggestion 
* La Riforma Med., 1891, p. 253. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., 
xii. (1892) pp. 173-4. f Zool. Anzeig., xv. (1892) pp. 375-7. 
