246 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
Examining Blood of Vertebrata for Endoglobular Parasites.* — 
M. A. Labbe finds that methylen-blue is the most useful reagent for 
examining fresh specimens of parasitic Protozoa, and gives the following 
formula: — Methylen-blue, 1; P 2 0, 100; NaCI, 0*75. A drop of this 
fluid is placed on the slide near the cover-glass, under which it is drawn 
by suction with a piece of blotting-paper. Acetic carmine and 1 per 
cent, methyl-green are also favourably spoken of. The best fixatives 
are sublimate, osmic acid, a mixture of equal parts of ether and absolute 
alcohol, picric acid and Flemming’s fluid. 
The procedure adopted by the author is first to pass the cover-glass 
through the flame and wash in distilled water for 5 minutes. When dry, 
immerse in acetic acid, 1 drop ; H 2 0, 20 ccm. ; after this it is treated for 
24 hours with saturated aqueous solution of picric acid, 30 ; H 2 0, 30 ; 
glacial acetic acid, 1. It is next washed in absolute alcohol. 
The staining methods recommended are — (1) Malachowsky’s. Satu- 
rated aqueous sol. methylen-blue, 24 ; 5 per cent. sol. borax, 16 ; H 2 0, 40. 
With this the preparations are treated for 24 hours and then washed. 
(2) Czenzinski’s. (a) Saturated aqueous solution methylen-blue, 2 ; 
H 2 0, 4. ( b ) 1 per cent, solution of eosin in 60° spirit. Mix 1 part of 
(b) with 2 of (a), and stain for 24 hours. (3) Mannaberg’s. Saturated 
aqueous solution methylen-blue, 40; 2 per cent, eosin in C 2 H 6 0 at 60°, 
80 ; H 2 0, 40. (4) Hematoxylin, (a) Hematoxylin solution, 10 ; 
C 2 H 6 0, 100. (b) 1/2 per cent, solution ammonia-alum ; 1 part of (a) and 
2 of (6). Stain for 24 hours. Then differentiate in nitric acid alcohol, 
followed by ammonia-alcohol. Wash in 80 per cent, spirit. Balsam. 
Besides the preceding numerous hints are scattered throughout the 
author’s exhaustive paper. 
For removing the pigments from Gymnosporidia the author used the 
following: — Glycerin, 100; alcohol 70 per cent., 100; a few drops 
of HC1. 
Preparation and Care of Insect Collections.! — Mr. C. Dury has 
prepared an essay on the best methods of killing, pinning, mounting, and 
taking care of material as well as on the proper methods for collecting 
it. It will probably be found useful by those whose experiences are not 
sufficient to enable them to do this for themselves. 
Karyokinesis of Spirogyra.t — Dr. J. W. Moll fixed the filaments 
in Flemming’s mixture for four days. Fragments were placed in a 
6 per cent, solution of celloidin (dissolved in equal parts- of ether and 
90 per cent, alcohol). The addition of a minute quantity of gentian- 
violet made the recognition of the objects easier. After a few minutes 
they were placed on a slide with a drop of celloidin, and the slide placed 
in 95 or 96 per cent, alcohol. The hardened layer of celloidin was cut 
into square centimetres ; the squares were lifted off the slide and placed 
in 96 per cent, for 1J hours. The alcohol was replaced with oil of 
marjoram; this requires to be done carefully. Then the objects were 
transferred through solutions of paraffin and oil of marjoram (15, 30, 
* Arch. Zool. Exp. et Gen., ii. (1894) pp. 55-258 (10 plates). 
f Journ. Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist., xvii. (1894) pp. 173-80. 
X Arch. Ne'er. Sci. Nat., xxviii. (1894) pp. 312-57 (2 pis.). Cf. this Journal, 
1893, p. 752. 
