GENERAL BIOLOGY 



THE AIMS AND METHODS OF LABORA- 

 TORY WORK IN BIOLOGY 



The purpose of all laboratory work is to study nature at first 

 hand ; but in order to save time it is necesary to utilize knowledge 

 slowly acquired by many generations of previous students. There- 

 fore we do not follow Agassiz's motto: "Study Nature, not 

 Books/' but, rather, "Study Nature and Books." The educational 

 value of laboratory work lies chiefly in the cultivation of accuracy 

 and independence both of observation and of judgment, and in 

 the deeper and more lasting impression which is made of that 

 which we have actually seen and handled. Each student is ex- 

 pected to make for himself the observations and experiments 

 hereafter indicated. The assigned readings which are given at the 

 beginning of each topic should be carefully read before coming 

 to the laboratory. In the laboratory these Directions must be stud- 

 ied and followed. Only in this way can a great waste of time, 

 effort and material be prevented. 



A record of every observation or experiment must be entered 

 in the prescribed note book, under numbers corresponding to 

 those in these Directions. This record should consist of drawings 

 and descriptive notes, and every page should bear the name of its 

 author and date. The record for each topic must be inspected 

 and passed by an instructor before any new topic may be under- 

 taken. 



To each student in the laboratory is assigned a locker containing 

 a microscope, reagents, glassware, etc., for the safe keeping of 

 which he is held responsible. The microscope is the most complex 

 and delicate instrument in this outfit, and work with it should be 

 preceded by a study of the following description of its parts and 

 directions as to its use. 



I. THE MICROSCOPE. 



Read: "How to Use and Care for the Microscope." Spencer 

 Lens Co. ; or 



"Use and Care of the Microscope," Bausch and Lomb 

 Optical Co. 



A. DESCRIPTION. The body or tube bears the lenses and is 

 supported upon a stand which also carries a mirror to cast light 



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