NOTES AND MEMORANDA. 
291 
Witli regard to the particular organs, I have to remark as follows : — 
(1) The Skin . — This is one of the objects which gives the best 
results. The different layers of the epidermis, and the whole epider- 
mis contrasted with the cutis, show very prominently. In the cutis 
the dark, rose-coloured bundles of fibrilleB of the connective tissue 
appear remarkably distinct, so that their arrangement is easily recog- 
nized. Upon this rose-coloured substratum are seen with extraordi- 
nary distinctness the blue nuclei of the connective-tissue cells, the 
vessels with their scarlet contents and their musculature, and the 
sweat glands with their somewhat dark-blue stained cells, on the 
borders of which may be detected, on the exuding side, the fine red 
cuticula. Hairs and nails are also very beautiful. 
(2) The Muscular System . — This is not very well adapted for 
the staining, as regards details. On the other hand, the tissue, as 
such, stands out very beautifully from other tissues. The smooth 
muscles, for instance, are distinguished in weak stainings from the 
surrounding connective tissue ; they remain dark red, with a different 
tint to the connective-tissue bundles. The striated muscles have a 
somewhat darker tint. 
(3) Bones and Cartilage . — The basic substance of the decalcified 
bones becomes deep scarlet, the cells more bluish. The method is 
best suited for the process of ossification. In this appears the pecu- 
liar phenomenon, that in the place where the cartilage cell nests lie 
the interstitial substance of the cartilage, which previously had a bluish 
red tint, acquires somewhat suddenly a deep blue colour, which 
would be the characteristic colour of the calcified cartilage. The basic 
substance of the bone, as above mentioned, appears stained a deep 
scarlet, and thus the superposed bone substance proper, down into the 
bone, is distinguished very clearly from the calcified cartilage. On 
the other hand, by this means the latter may be followed far into the 
bone, as every trace of it may be recognized, without anything else, 
by its blue staining. Thus it is possible to detect the cartilage- 
remains very plainly in the middle of the shaft of the bone, in a 
transverse section through the tibia of a new-born infant. The 
hyaline cartilage, with its bluish basic substance, and the red cells 
inserted in it, with a number of blue nuclei, is a most excellent 
object. The perichondrium is a deep red, and thus contrasts sharply 
with the cartilage. The division of the basic substance of the car- 
tilage into different territories often appears very beautifully ; the 
bounding parts are almost blue black. Elastic cartilage gives most 
excellent preparations ; for instance, the transition portion from 
hyaline to elastic cartilage (e. g. cartilage arytaenoidea). The elastic 
fibres are a lively red, and are thus well distinguished from the bright 
blue basic substance. 
(4) Nerve System . — Transverse sections through the spinal cord 
show the coarser fibres very well, as the nerve -tubes, both medulla 
and axis-cylinder, are coloured red, whilst the neuroglia appears 
bluish red, with dark blue nuclei. The ganglion-cells are reddish, 
with a slight touch of blue, whilst their nuclei, in opposition to the 
nuclei of the other cells, appear somewhat redder than the cell- 
