NOTES AND QUERIES. 275 
members was to have been held on Thursday, the 27th ulto., to 
consider the following resolution :— 
“That this Committee is of opinion that it would be of advan- 
tage to the Microscopical Society if it was disassociated from any 
other Society whatsoever.” 
Tue “Acme” Microscopes of J. W. Sidle & Co., Lancaster, 
Pas Oa oe 3s 
The following prefatory remarks are taken from the catalogue of 
the above firm. We wish every maker of Microscopes in this 
country could say the same :— 
“We desire to call special attention to the fact that the tubing 
on all our stands is of the same diameter ; consequently, we have 
but one size and quality of eye-piece. 
‘‘The diameters and standard screws in centres of stages of 
Nos. 3 and 4 are alike, permitting here of the use of the rotating 
or mechanical stage on either instrument, and also of an inter- 
change of accessories. 
* All our sub-stages are of one size, hence the sub-stage acces- 
sories are adaptable to all our stands. 
“ All our Binoculars are furnished with removable and extra 
nose-pieces. 
“These are points of no small importance.” 
DaMMaR AND BENzoL.—Place three ounces of gum dammar in 
a wide-mouthed stoppered bottle and pour in six ounces of benzol. 
After a time, with frequent agitation, the whole will be dissolved. 
Allow to settle, and carefully pour off the clear portion for use. 
GUAIACUM VARNISH.—Take— 
Gum Guaiacum POMS oof rccrst hoo: 2 ounces. 
Se aAC yc) cee at scsi 50'\ nice! ociash pate aay ae aaa 
Methylated spirit... .. See Co) 
~<a poe i 
Powder the guaiacum, dissolve in the spirit, and filter ; then add 
the shellac to the filtrate and digest in a water bath until 
dissolved. This varnish is not acted upon by benzol; it may 
therefore be used for closing cells, afterwards to be finished with 
white zinc varnish. It is not so brittle as shellac dissolved in 
alcohol. 
TURNTABLES.—The Editor of the American Monthly Micros- 
copical Journal takes exception to our article on this subject, be- 
cause the “Congress” turntable has been entirely overlooked, 
“and several of the later American forms have been entirely 
ignored.” We are sorry for this, but how can we be expected to 
know of a// these things, if the makers of them will not send us des- 
criptions. As it is, we consider Aylward’s the best turntable extant, 
‘Congress ” or no Congress. 
