161 



*' Description of Turpentine Bath." 



By the Rev. H. G. W. Aubrey, Hale, Salisbury. 



Communicated 28tli March, 1873. 



The Turpentine Bath which has been jDrepared for me by Mr. 

 Curteis in accordance with my directions has proved so useful and 

 convenient that some account of it may be acceptable to the working 

 members of the Quekett Club. An exact description is unnecessary, 

 as a model of the bath* is sent for inspection. 



It was designed with a view to cleanliness and facility in handling 

 objects during maceration, and to economy of space and of turpen- 

 tine. In all these points it seems to me superior to the common 

 method of tying and plunging the slides into turpentine. Assuming 

 that all the necessary pressure for flattening the object has been 

 applied during the drying process, the slide has only to be re- 

 moved from the drying holder and slipped carefully into one of the 

 brass cradles or holders and suspended in the bath. No pressure 

 is exerted by the holder upon the covering glass, nor is it necessary. 

 In most cases the drying process has caused sufficient adhesion of 

 the thin glass to keep it in its place during the maceration, and if 

 it does slip away, which with small objects is not uncommon, no 

 injury is done, but rather an advantage gained, for it allows a final 

 touch to be given to them, and also the complete and easy removal 

 of the superfluous turpentine before the application of the dilute 

 balsam. I have never found either cover or object slip into the 

 bath from the slide. The breadth of the brass holders gives sufficient 

 support to prevent this. Clips of steel might be substituted for the 

 brass ones if it was thought desirable to secure the cover glass by 

 pressure during the maceration, but would considerably increase 

 the expense, without much additional advantage. The form of the 

 brass holders is important, but if the pattern be carefully followed there 

 will be no fear about their working successfully. It will be ob- 

 served that when suspended from the lateral ledges the holder does 



