CHAPTER XVI 

 MICROSCOPE OUTFITS 



On Labor Saving in the Use of the Microscope. — The 



microscope outfit should be chosen with a view to labor 

 saving; for whether it is to be used in routine work, or in 

 research work, saving of time is of value. Work with the 

 microscope usually requires much preliminary attention 

 to the dissection, fixation, sectioning and staining of 

 objects; so that limited time is available to attend to the 

 instrument itself. Time may be saved by the following 

 methods, among others. 



1. Have microscope, screens, and lamp permanently 

 centered at the right distance, along a straight line marked 

 on the table, or on a board (Coles). It would save time if 

 the microscope was fixed in place by screws. 



2. Have the diaphragms on the source of light pivoted 

 so as to be readily turned into place. 



3. Use the same bright-field condenser throughout, 

 so as to waste no time in changing condensers for low, 

 medium, or high objectives. 



4. Have a series of yellow-green glasses to moderate the 

 light, and to serve also as color screens. 



5. Have the stop for the condenser sleeve always 

 arranged so that when the condenser is screwed or racked 

 up to the Hmit it will nearly touch the slide. 



6. Use water immersion (not oil) for the condenser 

 (xylol may be employed occasionally). 



7. Have the condenser centered with the highest objec- 

 tive, by a simple centering sleeve which can be adjusted 

 once for all and is not likely to get out of order. Usually 

 only a few tenths of a millimeter adjustment will be wanted. 



8. Use only sUdes of 1-millimeter thickness, within 

 a range of 0.1 millimeter. These can readily be obtained. 



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