such as Aglaophenia pluma or Plumularia setacea, it must be allowed to remain some hours until the polypides are fully extended. Kleinenberg's fluid must then be introduced by means of a dipping-tube. It may be allowed to flow over the specimen in a continuous stream, until the whole of the water assumes a golden yellow colour. The reagent causes instant death, so that the specimens may be transferred immediately to 60 per cent., and afterwards to 75 per cent. alcohol, allowing them to remain in each solution for some hours. Keep in 90 per cent. alcohol. From four to six minutes' immersion in Martindale's picrocarmine staining fluid is sufficient to stain specimens killed by either of the above methods. Mounting Pollen as an Opaque Object.*-W. Blackburn gives directions for mounting pollen dry upon the anther from which it has escaped. For collecting and drying the anthers, the flowers should be gathered when full-blown, just before they begin to fade, and the stamens then cut with fine scissors a short distance from the anthers, the latter being allowed to fall upon clean writing paper, when a selection may be made with a pocket-lens of the specimens most suitable for preservation. Folding the paper without pressure, place the packet in a box, where the author lets it remain in oblivion for twelve months or perhaps two years. In the case of large anthers, such as the Lilium auratum, it may be advisable to lay them on a piece of blotting-paper, inside the writing-paper, in order the better to absorb moisture, care being taken when mounting, to remove any adhering fibres of the blotting material with a needle. Thin metal and bone cells may be used for mounting. The metal ones may be either of brass or block tin. For small anthers, such as those of Ranunculus aquatilis, the ordinary 1/2 in. brass cells are suitable. For larger anthers, or groups of stamens and anthers, such as may be made from the Abutilon, 5/8 in. and 3/4 in. bone cells are the best. Bone is much preferable to metal for its adhesive capacity when affixed to glass, and the bone cells usually sold have their surfaces" truer than those of metal. For cement use "quick setting" gold size. When about to mount the anthers, paint the bottom of the cell with "matt-black," using the turntable, so as to distribute it evenly over the glass. When the "black" is partially dry, place the anthers upon it in suitable positions, and gently press them with a blunt needle so as to secure their adhesion to the cement. The best effect will be produced when the anthers are arranged in the centre of the cell with the stamens directed on one side, as in their natural position. This, however, may be left to the taste of the mounter; and in many cases no arrangement of this kind will be required, as one or other will be found large enough to fill the cell. When there is found to be a deficiency of pollen on any of the anthers after mounting, some pollen may be taken on the point of a needle from other anthers and placed in position on the bare parts, when gently breathing upon it will fix it. * Micr. News, iii. (1883) pp. 297–9. Mounting Fluid for Algae."-For preserving the cell-contents and the natural colour and form of desmids, volvox, and other algæ, G. W. Morehouse finds a mounting fluid made as follows to act well: Dissolve 15 grains of acetate of copper in a mixture of 4 fluid ounces of camphor water, 4 fluid ounces of distilled water, and 20 minims of glacial acetic acid; add 8 fluid ounces of Price's glycerine, and filter. When sections of plant-stems, or other vegetable specimens, are mounted in this fluid, the protoplasm is preserved. If, in any case, it is thought desirable to increase or diminish the specific gravity of the preservative, the proportion of glycerine may be changed. Used as above, or modified as indicated, he thinks it also a trustworthy medium for mounting infusoria and the softer animal tissues. Mounting Diatoms in Series.t-P. Francotte has applied Giesbrecht's method of mounting sections in series to the mounting of diatoms. The slide is coated with the solution of shellac in alcohol washed over with oil of olives or creosote, and the diatoms, previously placed in absolute alcohol, arranged in order. The slide is then warmed, and the oil of cloves or creosote evaporated. Schällibaum's process § for sections would also be available for the same purpose. FIG. 27. Registering Micrometer-screw to the Thoma Microtome.||Dr. C. O. Whitman gives the following more detailed description of this screw, which we described at pp. 914-5 of vol. iii. (1883) from the original article of Andres, Giesbrecht, and Mayer, the designers of the arrangement for regulating its movement. This arrangement consists of a spring which, after a given number of divisions of the drum, registers to the ear and finger of the manipulator the number of micromillimetres which the object has been raised. The intervals between the registering clicks can be varied by means of a vernierlike adjustment of the two halves of the drum, so as to equal an entire revolution of the drum, or only 1/15, 1/3, or 1/2 of a revolution. BUFFLE An examination of fig. 27, which illustrates the new form of the drum, will show how the intervals are regulated. The drum is composed of two symmetrical halves, A B and A'B', so closely opposed that the dividing line (dotted in the figure) is scarcely visible. The periphery of each half is composed of two zones of unequal radii. The large zones, B and B', are in apposition, and together form the graduated * Amer. Mon. Micr. Journ., iv. (1883) pp. 234-5. + Bull. Soc. Belg. Micr., x. (1883) pp. 43-8. See this Journal, ii. (1882) p. 888. § See this Journal, iii. (1883) p. 736. Amer. Natural., xvii. (1883) pp. 1313-4 (1 fig.). portion of the drum. Each of the smaller zones is marked with the figures 1, 2, 3, and 15. When the drum is in order for work, it rotates with the screw, which is marked g g in fig. 53, vol. iii. (1883) p. 302. The left half of the drum A B is held in position by the screw S, and may be rotated independently of the right half A'B', or ¡of the screw gg, by the aid of a handle which fits the holes x x x. When the half A B is adjusted to the half A' B', in the manner represented in the figure, the fifteen equal parts into which the zone B is divided exactly correspond to the same number of parts in the zone B', so that the grooves which mark these parts in one zone, become continuous with those of the other zone. Thus adjusted, the spring, which rides on the zones B B', with a sharp edge parallel to the grooves, will give fifteen sharp clicks in the course of one rotation of the drum, the click being heard every time the sharp edge falls into coincident grooves. In order to adjust for fifteen clicks, it is only necessary to rotate A B until groove 15 becomes continuous with groove 15 of the opposite half (A' B'). For one click in one rotation, the grooves 1, 1 must be made to coincide; for two clicks the grooves 2, 2, and for three clicks the grooves 3, 3. The intervals between successive clicks may thus be made to correspond to 1/1, 1/2, 1/3 or 1/15 of a complete rotation of the drum, and the thickness of sections corresponding to these intervals should be respectively 015, 0015, 005, 001 mm. ACHESON, G.-Biological Study of the Tap Water in the School of Practical Science, Toronto. [Methods of examination-Diatomaceo-Desmidiaceae-Phycochromaces Proc. Canad. Institute, I. (1883) pp. 413-26 (1 pl. to follow). ADY, J. E.-Microscopical Technology. On the exhibition (sic) of Canada Balsam. -Schizophyte-Protozoa-Vermes-Arthropoda.] [Directions for mounting sections of tissues in Canada balsam.] ADY'S (J. E.) New Morphological Institution [for the production of micrographical preparations, and especially of rock and mineral sections]. Sci.-Gossip, 1883, pp. 276-7; 1884, p. 18. See also Nature, XXIX. (1884) p. 283. AMI, H. M.-Use of the Microscope in determining Fossils, with especial reference to the Monticuliporida. AYLWARD'S (H. P.) Pond-life Apparatus. [Vol. III. (1883) p. 911.] Science, III. (1884) pp. 25–6. Sci.-Gossip, 1883, p. 276. BARRÉ, P.-Sur un procédé de préparation synoptique d'objets pulverulents. Diatomées des guanos, terres fossiles, &c. (On a process of synoptic preparation of pulverulent objects. Diatoms from guano, fossil earths, &c.) [Post.] Bull. Soc. Belg. Micr., X. (1883) pp. 16-8 (1 pl.). BELFIELD, Ŵ. T.-The Microscope in the detection of Lard Adulteration. Proc. Amer. Soc. Micr., 6th Ann. Meeting, pp. 97-103 (1 pl.). BENNETT, C. H.-Mounting Entomological Slides. [Treat the object for a week or a month, as the case may require, with liq. potassæ until thoroughly bleached; then, without removing the contents of the cavities, or in any way subjecting to the slightest pressure, mount in glycerine in a cell of ample depth so as to allow the object to retain its natural form and position.] The Microscope, III. (1883) p. 220. BRAMAN, B.-Microscopic Evidence of the Antiquity of Articles of Stone. BROOKS' (H.) Sets of sections of Woods for instruction in schools. ["The sections are about 2 x 4 in., and are neatly mounted between BURRILL, T. J.-Preparing and mounting Bacteria. 99 Proc. Amer. Soc. Micr., 6th Ann. Meeting, pp. 79-85. To stain Bacillus tuberculosis. "Many ways have been tried to leave the alcohol out and yet obtain a stain as good as that of the published formulas. The following seems to be the thing sought:-Glycerine, 20 parts; fuchsin, 3 parts; anilin oil, 2 parts; carbolic acid, 2 parts."-Also directions for use.] The Microscope, IV. (1884) pp. 6-8. CARPENTER, W. B.-Remarks on Microscopical Observation. Syllabus of Carlisle Microscopical Society, 1884. CHADWICK, H. C.-On some experiments made with a view of killing Hydroid CHESTER, A. H.-- A new method of Dry Mounting. Proc. Amer. Soc. Micr., 6th Ann. Meeting, pp. 143–5 (1 fig.). CHEYNEY, J.-The Microscopic Study of Fibres. [The Microscope in the dye-room-The marks of perfect dyeing-Marks of imperfect dyeing-The location of defects.] Micr. News, IV. (1884) pp. 7-9, from Textile Record of America. COLE, A. C.-Popular Microscopical Studies. No. III. The Scalp. Vertical Section of Human Scalp. Double-stained. No. IV. The Ovary of a Poppy. Transverse section of Ovary of Papaver No. V. A Grain of Wheat. pp. 21-4. Plate 5. Long. sec. of Embryo at base The Methods of Microscopical Research. Part V. The Preparation of Animal Tissues (continued). pp. xxv.-xxxii. (2 figs.). [Silver nitrate-Chloride of gold-Injection of Blood-vessels (Injecting How to preserve Botanical specimens. On Animal and Vegetable Section-cutting. Rutherford's, Williams', Fearnley's and Cathcart's Microtomes. Gum and syrup preserving fluid. To cut tissues soaked in gum and syrup medium. Cutting by imbedding. Studies in Microscopical Science. Vol. II. No. 7. Section 1. No. 4. Epithelium. pp. 13-16. Plate 4, × 400. No. 8. Section 2. No. 4. Chap. II. The Cell as an Individual. pp. 13-16. No. 9. Sec. 1. No. 5. Cartilage. pp. 17-19. Plate 5. T. S. Hyaline No. 10. Section 2. No. 5. Chap. III. The Morphology of Tissues. DOWDESWELL, G. F.-Note on a minute point in the structure of the Spermatozoon of the Newt. [Contains directions for preparing the spermatozoa, supra, p. 150.] Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci., XXIII. (1883) pp. 336-9 (1 fig.). FRANCOTTE, P.-Description des différentes méthodes employées pour ranger les coupes [et les Diatomées] en série sur le porte-objet. (Description of the different methods adopted for mounting sections [and diatoms] in series on the slide.) [Description of Mayer's, Giesbrecht's, Schällibaum's, and Threlfall's methods; also the application of the second and third to diatoms, supra, p. 153.] Bull. Soc. Belg. Micr., X. (1883) pp. 43-8, 63-6. FRANCOTTE, P.-Microtomes et méthodes d'inclusion, I. (Microtomes and methods of imbedding.) [Describes Thoma's Microtome and various methods already published.] Bull. Soc. Belg. Micr., X. (1884) pp. 55-63 (1 fig. and 1 pl.). FREEMAN, H. E.-Cutting Glass-circles. [Perforated wooden slips and writing diamond with turned point, the thin glass G., W. B.-Cement for objects mounted in spirits of wine. Proc. Amer. Soc. Micr., 6th Ann. Meeting, 1883, pp. 169-74 (2 figs.). and SMITH, T.-Serial Microscopic Sections. [Post.] Medical Student (N.Y.) I. (1883) pp. 14-6. GILLIATT, H.-Some remarks on the action of Tannin on Infusoria. [Vol. III. (1883) p. 861.] Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, VIII. (1883) pp. 383-6. GRANT, F.-Microscopic Mounting. [1. Sections. 2. Section Cutting. 3. Staining. 4. Various practical V. The Use of Reagents. Engl. Mech., XXXVIII. (1883) pp. 285-6. [1. The use of Reagents in general. 2. Glycerine and Syrup. 3. Acids and Alkalis.] Engl. Mech., XXXVIII. (1883) pp. 365–7. VI. Chloroform.-Vegetable Objects. [1. Chloroform or Benzol, for thinning Canada balsam. 2. Non-fructifying organs of higher plants. 3. Ways in which vegetable sections should be cut. 4. Bleaching. 5. Staining.] VII. Staining. Engl. Mech., XXXVIII. (1884) pp. 386-8. [1. Staining in general.-Transient stains. 2. Metallic impregnations.— Diffuse, bioplasmic, and special tissue stains. 3. Hæmatoxylin and Carmine. 4. Indigo Carmine, Aniline, and Phthalein stains. 5. Double staining.] GRIFFITH, E. H.-Practical Helps. Engl. Mech., XXXVIII. (1884) pp. 449-50. [Ringing slides-Photograph slides-Mounts without covers-Arranging Diatoms, post.] H., H.-Microscopic Mounting. The Microscope, III. (1883) pp. 204-6. Engl. Mech., XXXVIII. (1883) p. 266. HAACKE, W.-Ueber das Montiren von Alcoholpräparaten. (On the mounting of alcohol preparations.) [For microscopic objects for Museums.] Zool. Anzeig. VI. (1883) pp. 694-5. HAMLIN, F. M.-The microscopical examination of seminal stains on cloth. [Describes a new process, as "Koblanck's method, with its soakings and manipulations, tends to destroy so many of the spermatozoa as to lessen greatly the certainty of finding them."] Proc. Amer. Soc. Micr., 6th Ann. Meeting, pp. 21-5. Discussion, pp. 220-5. The preparation and mounting of Foraminifera, with de scription of a new slide for opaque objects. [Post.] Proc. Amer. Soc. Micr., 6th Ann. Meeting, pp. 65–8. |