After fourteen days in the cellulose acetate solution it was possible to obtain transverse sections of these hard woods. The cellulose acetate solution is therefore capable of softening even the hardest wood in a relatively short time. A comparison with stained sections of untreated wood revealed no differences. Delicate tissues in the wood and hyphae of fungi infecting the wood also stain well and are unaffected by the treatment. Various brands of cellulose acetate behave differently.
Cellulose acetate obtained from wood is unsatisfactory.
We found that cellulose acetate made from photographic films was also unsatisfactory. In making the solution, use 12 g. of cellulose acetate to 100 c.c. of pure acetone. It would be worth while to try to adapt this method to the paraffin method.