146 MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS. 



union of the two slides is filled. Tlie best plan to mount 

 an object in this way is as foUows. Having procured a 

 number of bevelled edge slides of like dimensions, take 

 some small pieces of red sealing-wax and dissolve them 

 in alcohol, or spirits of wine, using a little heat to facili- 

 tate the solution. This solution should be kept in a well- 

 stopped bottle. Now take the glass slides, and, having 

 cleansed them from grease and dirt, cover the edges with 

 this solution, which may be readily done with a camel's 

 hair pencil. The slides should be immediately placed on a 

 warm plate to evaporate the spirit quickly. When thus 

 prepared the shdes are ready to receive the objects. Place 

 the objects on the slide in the position you wish, and to 

 prevent it from shifting when covered by the top slide, 

 take a very smaU quantity of gum-water, and just touch 

 the corner of the object to attach it to the lower plate of 

 glass. In like manner a label with the name of the 

 object may be placed at the end. It may be remarked 

 that the less gum or other matter used to fix the object 

 in its place the better. Now take the upper plate of 

 glass and cover it over the object. One end of the slide 

 thus formed is to be held between the fingers, while the 

 other is heated with a spirit-lamp, and the groove filled 

 with a little sealing-wax, as shown in the engraving at a ; 

 then reverse the ends and repeat the process. The shde 

 is now fixed, and the groove along its sides can then be 

 more conveniently filled with the cement, ^\^len this is 

 finished, it is necessary to clean off any redundant wax. 

 For this purpose lay a sheet of glass or scouring-paper on 



