ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
489 
blood and for tbe diagnosis of its diseases, conferred a benefit on those 
who are desirous of becoming practically acquainted with the technique 
of blood preparations and with the pathology of the blood. The work 
is divided into three parts, which deal with methods for examining the 
blood, the general morphology of the blood, and the diseases in which 
the blood is primarily or secondarily affected. 
The author does not lay claim to originality, modestly avowing that 
the work is more or less a compilation. It is obvious, however, even 
from a snperficial examination, that he speaks authoritatively on a large 
number of points, and that the knowledge conveyed is the result of 
personal experience and acquaintance with the subject. The coloured 
illustrations are extremely effective. 
(3) Cutting-, including: Imbedding- and Microtomes. 
Combination of the Paraffin and Celioidin Methods of Imbed- 
ding.* — Mr. U. Dalilgren adopts the following method for imbedding 
ova and embryos of amphibia. The objects are infiltrated with celioidin 
in the usual way, and then immersed in a large quantity of chloroform 
for twenty-four hours. They are then transferred to a bath of one-half 
chloroform and one-half cedar oil. In twenty-four hours they are placed 
in the water-bath in paraffin of the grade that will be finally used to 
imbed them. Several changes are necessary, and more time must be 
allowed than for tissues imbedded by the plain paraffin method. 
C4) Staining and Injecting. 
Action of Pigments on Living Sponges. f— Dr. G. Loisel finds 
that granules of Congo-red and tournesol-blue are absorbed by endo- 
dermic and mesodermic cells of Reniera ingalli and Spongilla jluviatilis. 
Various kinds of colouring matter in solution (safranin, iodine-green, &c.) 
are stopped at the surface of the sponge, while others again are readily 
absorbed. Congo-red and tournesol-blue are peculiarly changed inside 
the cells enclosing them, as if by the action of an acid. After a time,, 
the substances are got rid of into the intercellular spaces, and are 
taken up by phagocytes, or transported outwards by the contractions 
of the matrical substance. Loisel goes on to notice the colouring of 
some living Protozoa, Medusae, and other animals by various reagents. 
Staining Blood-Films.}:— Dr. EL Bubinstein recommends the follow- 
ing procedure for staining blood. The cover-glasses should be very 
thin and perfectly clean. All traces of grease must be removed by 
passing them several times through the flame. The drop of blood placed 
on the cover-glass should not be larger than a pin’s head. The second 
cover-glass should be superimposed so that the two form an octagonal 
figure ; and, when the blood has spread out, the two are to be separated 
without the one exerting any pressure on the other. 
After having been dried in the air, the films are fixed by heating the 
cover-glasses film side downwards on a copper plate about 30 cm. long 
* Journ. Applied Microscopy, i. (1898) p. 97. 
t Journ. Anat. Phy&iol., xxxiv. pp. 187-234 (1 pi. and 3 figs.). 
% Zeitschr. f. wiss. Mikr., xiv. (1898) pp. 456-62. 
