166 



THE AMERICAN MONTHLY 



[July, 



terial. This is most useful for drying preparations or sections 

 ])revious to mounting them. It admits of ever\' possible gradua- 

 tion of heat up to 213"^ Fahr., and is preferable to the ordinary 

 modes of drying specimens. 



{6) By lifting oft'the porcelain water-bath we bring the water oven 

 into play. This attaches itself by a bayonet clip (not seen in the 

 figure) to the brass carrier, and cannot fall oi^'. It is the most 

 useful accessory known. It is a water-oven of about 3 fluid oz. 

 capacity with perforated tubulure for the admission of water and 

 escape of steam, and a draw-oft" tap at the side (mounters only 

 know how often a single drop or two of very hot water comes 

 handy). On the top is a tray where cements, mediums, solvents, 

 slides, etc., can be kept cold, warm, or hot, at the operator's dis- 

 cretion, and inclosed by a door on each side (one only can be 

 shown in the illustration. Fig. 3, page 166), is the water-jacketed 

 oven, size 3^^ by 2^, having a lift-out rack fitted to carry a dozen 

 3 by I slides without the possibility of their coming into mutual 

 contact, and which can be drying or hardening without the con- 

 stant and wearying attention of the operator, and at any desired 

 temperature under 212°. — E?iglish Mechanic. 



A Box for Slides. — Mr. E. Mosely has sent to the Scicjice- 

 Gossip the description of a cleverly constructed box for slides. 

 The advantage will be apparent from figure i. By pulling out 

 the bottom drawer, the others come out just far enough to show 

 the labels on the slides ; thus it will be at once noticed if any one 

 slide is missing. It well deserves the name bestowed on it by its 

 inventor, namely, *■' Compacta," for it is exceedingly compact, 

 and it is so simple that it cannot easily get out of order. 



A Pressureless Mounting-Clip. — A new form of mount- 

 ing-clip, designed to hold the cover-glass without pressure, is a 

 great improvement upon the spring-clip commonly used. Fig. 



