On Mon, 3 Jan 2000, P. Emry wrote:

> I can't find xylol anywhere in the books I have or vendors.  What is it
> and where do I get it?

  Thanks P. Emry for your loud shout for histo-literacy!
  We need more like you!

  As you know full well, there isn't a compound called xylol. That
  execrable and meaningless word crept into histo-speak about 100
  years ago, along with several other pseudo-chemical names of
  organic solvents.

  The correct designation is XYLENES (mixed isomers). This is a liquid
  miscible with absolute alcohol and with melted paraffin wax. Xylenes
  are also miscible with traditional resinous mounting media.

 John A. Kiernan,
 Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology,
 The University of Western Ontario,
 LONDON,  Canada  N6A 5C1
   E-mail: kiernan@uwo.ca