508 



RECORD OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Fig. 34. 



the cover is applied to tlie object, tlie slide is transferred to the 

 turntable, the cover is bronglit to tlic centre, and the pointed screw is 

 turned down upon the cover, compressing the object and expelling the 

 superfluous fluid. After a rough cleaning a ring of gelatine-solution 

 may be ajiplied, as directed in Marsh's treatise on Section-cutting, 

 p. 41. After a couple of applications of the gelatine and time allowed 

 for it to set, the screw may be loosened and the slide removed from 

 the turntable. 



Chase's Mounting Forceps.* — Having experienced the inconveni- 

 ence attendant upon the use of the ordinary methods of placing glass 

 covers upon objects. Dr. K. H. Chase devised the forceps shown in 

 Fig. 34, consisting of an ordinary pair of surgeon's 

 spring forceps, either straight or curved, having attached 

 to each blade a circular strip of metal, which carries 

 a short inn-shaped foot. The feet being attached to 

 the outer sides of the circular cross pieces, leave a 

 ledge upon which the glass cover rests. 



The method of mounting with the forceps is as 

 follows : — Having placed the slide iipon a self-center- 

 ing turntable, and the object carefully arranged upon 

 it in the balsam, place with a clean pair of forceps the 

 thin glass cover (which has previously been cleansed 

 and set aside for use) in the jaws of the mounting 

 forceps. Put a drop of balsam upon the side of the 

 cover that is to come in contact with the object, and 

 invert it over the object on the slide. Allow the feet 

 of the forceps to rest upon the slide, and adjust them 

 by the rings upon the turntable that are seen through 

 the glass. 



When the cover is thus carefully centered over the 

 object, relax the gi-asp of the fingers upon the forceps, 

 and the cover falls in place, caiising a wave of balsam 

 to radiate from the centre in every direction. The 

 result is that the cover is accurately centered, and 

 " the object peers up at you — gratifying sight — from 

 the centre of the cover." 



In this manner delicate tissues can be mounted that 

 would be inevitably washed to the edge of the cover 

 by the old method ; and which are too delicate to be 

 moved back in safety to their projier positions. Those also who have 

 occasion to mount groups of two or more objects under one cover, will 

 find this method of great advantage, as the objects retain their relative 

 positions as arranged upon the slide. 



Cleaning Slides and Thin Covers, f — Dr- C. Seiler describes an 

 easy method which he employs of eflccting this object. He places 

 new slides for a few hours in the following solution : — 

 Bichromate of potash, 2 oz. 

 Sulphuric acid, 3 fl. oz. 



"Water, 25 fl. oz. 



* 'Am. Journ. Micr.' v. (1880), p. 64. 



t Ibid., p. 50. 



