120 THE MICROSCOPE. Aug. 



Silvering Mirrors. 



By homo, 



DES MOINES, IOWA. 



To the physician, in diagnosing disease, to the den- 

 tist at his work and to themicroscopist, the mirror is ab- 

 solutely indispensable. The silvering of the mirrors 

 used often becomes damaged and it would then be a 

 great convenience to the user if he were to possess 

 some simple process whereby he could do the work him- 

 self. Many times the microscopist would like to make 

 use of devices that are suggested to him by the work at 

 hand, but is deterred from so doing because of inability 

 to procure material from which to construct them with- 

 out too much expense. In this work the mirror is often 

 no unimportant part, and to be able to obtain it would 

 be to overcome the greater part of the difficulty. The 

 formulas given below will enable a person so desiring, 

 if he has the suitable glass, to do this class of work easily 

 and perfectly. And if he calls the optician to his aid 

 for the glass, the cost will be found very light. In this 

 article reference is made especially to small mirrors 

 adapted for such use. There seems to be no lack of for- 

 mulas for doing this work, but most of them have proved 

 in the writer's hands very unsatisfactory and some of no 

 use at all. 



The formulas given below have been used for over 

 two years. In recommending them, every attention is 

 given to the details that are necessary in order by their 

 use to do the work. The solutions are simple and eas- 

 ily made and the chemicals such as are usually found in 

 every drug store. 



In order to do nice work it is absolutely necessary 

 that the glass to be silvered should be perfectly clean. 

 This being the case, consider first the preparation of the 

 glass. Mirror glass is very soft and there is great dan- 

 ger of scratching. Use no alkalies in cleaning and do 



