3» THE MICROSCOPE. 



CoMPENDUM OF MiCRoscoi'iCAL Tfxhnoi.ocy. Bv Carl Seller, M. D., late 

 Director of the Microscopical and Biological Section of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia ; Curator of the Pathological Society ; 

 Pathologist and Microscopist to the Presbyterian Hospital, etc., etc. 

 130 pp. 16 ill. Price $1.00. D. G. Brinton, Publisher, Philadelphia. 



The subject is treated under the following heads: i. The Mi- 

 croscope and how to use it. 2. Preparation of animal tissues. 3. 

 Cuttinj^ sections. 4. Staining of tissues. 5. Injecting the vascular 

 system. 6. Mounting and finishing of specimens. 7. The prepara- 

 tion of vegetable tissues. 8. Photo-micrography with an appendix 

 of fifteen pages on the different tumors. 



We have read this book through and have carefully noted its 

 many practical suggestions. It is a book that the practical micro- 

 scopist cannot afford to be without. It is not simply a compend of 

 Fray's large work, neither is it a repetition of the rules and sugges- 

 tions of other writers. The author has given us his own methods 

 and ways, some of which are entirely new. 



We are forced to disagree with him on one point at least, for 

 when it says that "artificial light, such as is obtained from a good 

 kerosene lamp, is to be preferred to daylight, for the simple reason 

 that the former can be controlled as to its brilliancy, while the latter 

 is beyond our control" it says what is not our experience. We have 

 never found any light so good as a light by a north window. Still 

 we have had but little experience with artificial light, and this may 

 account for our poor success with it. The author's mechanical knife 

 carrier is illustrated, and its manner of use described. With this 

 carrier the knife is moved over the well of the microtome in a slant- 

 ing direction so that each point of the edge describes a curve which 

 is equal to a part of a circle. It is the chapter on staining that most 

 interests us. A very easy method is given for preparing a carmine 

 mixture, and the double staining which has characterized so many of 

 the author's specimens is described fully. 



The chapter on the mounting and finishing of specimens is well 

 worth the price asked for the book, for who is not aware how much 

 it adds to a specimen to have it neatly and tastefully mounted. We 

 repeat then, that if anyone intends to keep posted on the better ways 

 to prepare and mount tissues, both animal and vegetable, they 

 cannot invest a dollar to better advantage. 



