Abstract
During efforts to improve quantitative methods of studying yellow fever virus in arthropods, it became evident that a single insect, such as a mosquito, can not be triturated in the ordinary mortar without the loss of much of the material, particularly when only a little liquid is added. The use of a small mortar that would also serve as a centrifuge-tube would reduce the loss and simplify the technic.
A device designed to achieve these ends was made of Pyrex glass; the two parts were first formed as accurately as possible in a flame; then the pestle was ground on a wheel to an approximate fit with the apposing surface of the mortar. The grinding surface was then formed at the bottom of the tube by seating the pestle B into A, using carborundum mixed with turpentine or glycerol. The grinding should be finished with a fine powder to give a reasonably fine tooth to the finished surface.
It is essential that the two grinding surfaces be well fitted and that the clearance established by the neck of the pestle should exceed in volume the quantity of fluid to be used in the mortar when the pestle is in place.
In the final grinding with carborundum, almost inevitably a ground surface will be formed in the upper portion of the tube where the head of the pestle is inserted. This is an advantage in that the presence of this ground surface assists in matching a particular pestle with its mortar. For further convenience, the exterior of the mortar may be etched to mark the volumes desired.
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