ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
565 
praise of it to an audience of microtomists. We learn from the preface 
that tlie author has most thoroughly revised his book — so thoroughly, 
indeed, as in many parts to have completely rewritten it. 
He has thought it well to enter more fully than was hitherto done 
into the details of the more important processes, to explain more fully 
the principles on which they are founded, and to add in many cases an 
estimate of their value. In consequence of this the bulk of the work is 
considerably increased, though the number of new processes described 
is smaller than in any edition since the first. The classification of the 
various methods has been in many cases greatly simplified, and a number 
of superfluous methods have been rejected. In dealing with the chapters 
on staining, the author has had the great advantage of the assistance of 
Dr. Paul Mayer. In the three chapters entitled Neurological Methods 
the contents have been entirely rearranged by the advice of Prof. Yan 
Gehuchten. The author thinks that the new arrangement may fairly 
claim to be natural, logical, and easily comprehensible. Perhaps the 
best statement as to the differences between this and earlier editions of 
the work will be found in a quotation from Mr. Lee’s preface : — “ On 
the one hand the book has been lightened by the jettison of much useless 
matter, and on the other hand there has been accorded to the matter 
that has been retained a far ampler share than before of explanation 
and detail. To such an extent, indeed, have the instructions to students 
and other explanatory matter been amplified, that I am not acquainted 
with any modern work on the subject that contains anything like so 
complete an account of the various fundamental operations of histological 
technique.” 
Cl) Collecting Objects, including Culture Processes. 
Apparatus for Cultivating Anaerobes.* — Herr Migula describes a 
very simple and practical apparatus for cultivating anaerobes. A closed 
chamber is made with two glass capsules, and in this, resting on glass 
blocks, is placed the culture vessel filled with inoculated agar or gelatin. 
The cover rises in the middle, in order to prevent the condensation 
water from dropping on the culture. In the middle is an aperture fitted 
with a caoutchouc plug and glass tube. Into the outer vessel so much 
liquid paraffin is poured as to form a layer about 1 cm. deep, and then, 
after having been sterilised, hydrogen is passed through the apparatus. 
The air is driven out in bubbles through the paraffin. 
Agar Media for Bacteriological Cultures.f — According to Herr 
Marpmann, algae belonging to the group Florideae may be used for 
making agar. Freshly collected algae are boiled and strained. Among 
the kinds suitable for the purpose are Fucus amylaceus, Fucus lichenoides , 
Fucheuma spec., and Sphserococci from the Mediterranean. Sphserococcus 
confervoides gives a fine jelly when prepared as follows : — 30 parts of 
S. confervoides are macerated in 2 parts hydrochloric acid and 1 litre 
of water, and afterwards washed with water until litmus paper is no 
longer reddened. The residue is squeezed and to it added 700 parts 
of water, 40 parts of glycerin, 20 parts of liquid pepton (Koch), and 
* Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschr., 1895, No. 52. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. 
u. Parasitenk., l ,e Abt., xix. (1896) p. 894. 
t Zeitschr. f. ang. Mikr., ii. (1S96) pp. 79-80. 
