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CHAPTER VI 



PBACTICAL MICBOSCOPY: MANIPULATION AND PRESERVATION 



OF THE MICROSCOPE 



WITHOUT attempting to occupy space with a discussion of the ques- 

 tion of the right of ' microscopy ' to be considered a science, we may 

 venture to affirm that it will be but a recognition of practical facts 

 if we claim as a definition of microscopy that it expresses, and is in- 

 tended to carry with it, all that belongs to the science and art of the 

 microscope as a scientific instrument, having regard equally to its 

 theoretical principles and its practical working. Hence ' practical 

 microscopy ' will mean a discourse on, or discussion of, the methods 

 of employing the microscope and all its simplest and more complex 

 appliances in the most perfect manner, based alike and equally upon 

 theoretical knowledge and practical experience. 



On this condition a ' microscopist ' means (or at least implies) 

 one who, understanding 'microscopy,' applies his theoretical and 

 practical knowledge either to the further improvement and perfec- 

 tion of the instrument, or to such branches of scientific research as 

 he may profitably employ his ' microscopy ' in prosecuting. He is, 

 in fact, a man employing specialised theoretical knowledge and 

 practical skill to a particular scientific end. 



But a ' microscopical society ' has a noble raison d'etre, because 

 it is established, on the one hand, to promote without consideration 

 of nationality or origin improvements in the theory and practical 

 construction of both the optical and mechanical parts of the micro- 

 scope, and to endeavour to widen its application as a scientific 

 instrument to every department of human knowledge, recording, in- 

 vestigating, and discussing every refinement and extension of its 

 application to every department of science, whether old or new. 



In this sense no more practical definition of a microscopical 

 society' can be given than is contained in the invaluable pages of 

 the ' Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society' from the end of 

 1880 to the present day ; and no better justification for the existence 

 of such a society can be needed than is afforded by the work done 

 directly or indirectly by it, in inciting to and promoting the theo- 

 retical and practical progression of the instrument and its ever- 

 widening applications to the expanding areas of natural knowledge. 



In this chapter we propose to discuss the best practical methods 

 of using the instrument and its appliances, the theory concerning 

 which has already been discussed, while the mode of applying this 



