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XXIII. — On a New Medium for mounting Organic Substances as 

 Permanent Objects for Microscopic Inspection. By Robert 

 Wabington, Esq. 



(Read March 29, 1848). 



The want of some non-volatile fluid for the purpose of mounting 

 organic objects permanently for microscopic investigation must have 

 been felt by all parties accustomed to the practical manipulation of 

 such matters; and it is with the view of affording some assistance to 

 the working microscopist in this direction, that I am induced to lay 

 the present brief communication before the Society. 



In making these remarks, I allude more particularly to such 

 organic objects as occur in a wet state, or contain water in their 

 structure or substance, and which, if got rid of by exsiccation, would 

 destroy the configuration and appearance of the subject, as must 

 be the case with many confervoid plants, Desmidece, and many deli- 

 cate animal or vegetable preparations, as well as in various other cases, 

 too numerous to enumerate. 



The fluid, which I have to bring under the notice of the members 

 of the Society, is generally termed Glycerine, or Oxide of Glycerule ; 

 it is the sweet principle, as its name implies, of all oils and fats, which 

 consist of this compound in union with the fatty and oily acids : when 

 therefore these are separated, by causing them to combine with any 

 base for which they may have a stronger affinity, as in the processes 

 for making soaps and emplastra, the Glycerine is set free, and as 

 in these operations it is always necessary that water should be pre- 

 sent to effect the required decomposition, this agent holds the sweet 

 principle in solution, and may be readily separated when the process 

 is perfected. 



Having had occasion to apply the fluid, in consequence of its pecu- 

 liar properties, to the purposes of preserving animal and vegetable 

 substances on the large scale, I was induced to try its application to 

 effect the desideratum already alluded to. 



