ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
247 
45, 60, 75, and 90 per cent.); and finally cut. We have said enough 
to show that Dr. Moll goes in for somewhat elaborate technique, but he 
has much more to say on this subject. 
Cell-structure.* — Herr G. Schloter, in studying the cells of the 
Salamander (skin and liver), used corrosive sublimate as fixative, and 
stained with Bohmer’s hmmatoxylin+indulin-|-eosin-f- safranin, or with 
Bohmer’s hasmatoxylin-f-aurantia, or with Ehrlich’s stains. 
(3) Cutting', including Imbedding and [Microtomes. 
• 
Anise Oil in Histological Technique. f— Dr. Y. A. Moore has 
obtained very satisfactory results from a modification of Kiihne’s J 
method of imbedding in anise oil. The pieces to be sectioned should 
be from 2-4 mm. thick. These are placed in a test-tube, on the bottom 
of which is some cotton-wool and which contains absolute alcohol. The 
tubes are heated in a water-bath to about 40° for half-an-hour or so, 
by which time the tissue is sufficiently hardened. The blocks are then 
mopped with blotting paper, and having been covered with anise oil 
sectioned on a freezing microtome. In this way specimens can be 
examined in less than an hour after removal from the body, a point of 
considerable importance very often. 
By previously staining the tissue en masse much time is saved if 
several or many sections from the same block are intended to be kept. 
This is rendered possible by the fact that anise oil and Canada balsam 
are miscible ; consequently, the sections can be transferred directly from 
the knife to the mounting medium, provided the block has been thoroughly 
impregnated with the oil. 
(4) Staining and Injecting. 
Staining Attraction-spheres and Centrosoxnes.§ — Mr. J. H. Schaffner 
recommends the following two processes for observing the attraction 
spheres and centrosomes in vegetable cells : — (1) Fix the objects for 
1 or 2 days in a solution of 15 parts 1 per cent, platinum chloride, 
1 part acetic acid, 2-4 parts 2 per cent, osmic acid, 80 parts water. 
Now wash the objects in flowing water, harden gradually in alcohol, 
and after that place them from 12 to 18 hours in pyroligneous acid. 
Next place them in a solution of 1 part 20 per cent, haematoxylin and 
99 parts 70 per cent, alcohol. Keep in the dark, and leave from 12 to 
18 hours, and after that in the dark for some time in 70 per cent, alcohol. 
Imbed and section. After the sections are fastened to the slide, cover 
them with a solution of potassium permanganate of a light rose colour, 
and leave until they have an ochre colour. Then wash in a solution 
of 1 part hydric oxalate, 1 part potassic sulphate, and 1000-2000 parts 
water. After this stain the sections from 3 — 5 minutes in a saturated 
alcoholic solution of safranin ; clear, and mount in Canada balsam. 
The centrosomes are stained very black by the safranin ; while the attrac- 
tion-spheres remain quite colourless or are only very slightly stained. 
(2) Place the sections for 30-35 minutes in a 1 per cent, aqueous solu- 
* Arch. f. Mikr. Anat., xliv. (1894) pp. 249-59 (1 pi.). 
f Amer. Mon. Micr. Journ., xv. (1894) pp. 373-6. 
t See this Journal, 1892, p. 706. § Bot. Gazette, xix. (1894) pp. 451-3. 
