125 



Manipulation with Canada Balsam. 

 By D. E. Goddard. 



(Read 23rd February, 1866.J 



I cannot flatter myself that the remarks I have the honour of 

 bringing before you contain anything new, or that I shall interest 

 or instruct the majority of my audience ; nor should I take up the 

 time of the Association except in the hope that I may assist some 

 of those who are just commencing the study of microscopical 

 science. 



There is no royal road to learning ; there is nothing, however 

 trivial, to be accomplished in microscopic manipulation without 

 patience and perseverance. Very often an instrument is purchased, 

 and with generous enthusiasm the student dashes into the pursuit 

 of knowledge, and fancies that he can, by some magic process, 

 fill his cabinet with his own preparations. With such objects as 

 require to be mounted dry, he succeeds pretty well ; but when he 

 comes to manipulate with Canada balsam, he often meets with 

 failure after failure ; and, perchance, instead of persevering till 

 success crowns his efforts, he retires from the contest disgusted and 

 annoyed. Such has been the career of many. I trust it will be 

 for this Association to extend a helping hand to the beginner to 

 smooth some of his rugged paths, and enable him to surmount, 

 with ease and pleasure, those obstacles that others have only passed 

 with great difficulty and much loss of time. 



I have chosen for my subject — " Manipulation with Canada 

 Balsam." 



I purpose noticing — 



First. — The medium generally. 



Secondly. — Some of the sources of failure, and show how they may 

 be surmounted. 



Thirdly. — The use of chloroform and balsam. 



First. — The " Micrographic Dictionary" states that Canada balsam 

 is the liquid resin obtained by tapping the Pinus balsamea. . It is 



Journ. Q. M. C. No. 13. k 



