:f /j/X/shs.bbgklt
Transcribed: Thu Oct 10 17:18:27 EDT 2002


                       [BBGKLT]


February 26, 1941

Microtechnique Group                  The Biology Society
     Joshua Lederberg               [Stuyvesant High School]

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The work of this group is divided into two sections, Laboratory and
Seminar.  In the summer, on Friday afternoons, members and leaders
of all other groups concerned with micrological technique - such as
Bacteriology, Protozoology, Histology, Botany, etc -- are invited
to attend and, in some cases, address a discussion on various
phases of general and specific microtechnique.  The program for the
discussions comprises:
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     1.  The Theory of Fixation, and practical applications
     2.  The Theory of Staining, do
     3.  Metallic Impregnation Methods: Cajal, Golgi, etc.
     4.  Specific Micro-Chemical Methods
     5.  Vital and Supra-Vital Staining
     6.  Tissue Culture
     7.  Bacterial Cytologic Technique
     8.  Protozoan Reaction
     9.  Botanical Techniques
    10.  General Zoological and Histological Method
    11.  Dissociation and Teasing; Smears, etc.
    12.  The Optics of the Microscope

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All members are invited to attend these interacting discussions.

     The Laboratory Section is working in conjunction with the
Histology Group, and will thus concern itself with the techniques
for the histology and cytology of the cells of the nervous system.
To this end, the following preparations are designed.

     Golgi, slow and rapid methods, for Golgi Bodies, neurofibrils,
etc.
     Cajal - Urano formal fixation: Impregnation for Golgis, neuro- fibrils.
     Golgi - Cajal ____?-formal: Mitochondria
     Kopsch (Osmic Acid): Golgi Bodies
     Vital Stain, Janus Green or Neutral Red: Mitochondria

Meanwhile, until the preparation of fixations and other materials
needed for these methods, Sections and blocks will be made of other
tissues by simpler techniques in order to ingrain this fundamental
method (Dioxane dehydration, paraffin embedding) into the group
members mentalities.  There is no particular plan for this; although
use of the stomach or intestine of a rabbit, Bouin's fixation, is
suggested.