1889.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 63 



of the manipulations there described are varied according to the nature 

 of the mounting medium finally chosen ; but an analysis of the processes 

 enables us to divide them into three principal groups as follows, viz : 

 i. Those pertaining to the preparation of the material. 



2. The preparation of the slide to receive the object. 



3. The mounting of the object on the slide, including finishing. 



Report upon the Postal Club Boxes — IT. 



By QUEEN MAB. 



. Box V 2 . — The itinerancy of the Postal Club slides tells severely upon 

 their durability, as this box illustrates. It would be interesting to have 

 with each box the date when placed in circulation, thus affording, to 

 some extent, a test of the comparative durability of the various modes 

 of preparation. It would seem that a far more desirable method of 

 forming the reference collection of slides to be kept at headquarters, 

 which the Club Managers have for some time contemplated, than by 

 the accumulation of such slides as have survived the vicissitudes of mail 

 transportation to be retired from the circuits, would be to procure from 

 experienced preparers their perfect work. Such, in their respective 

 specialties, they would no doubt willingly contribute for this purpose. 

 Box V 2 , is contributed from Jamestown. N. Y., and represents six 

 contributors and three preparers. 



Slide No. 1, prepared by Dr. A. Waterman, shows transverse section 

 of leaves of four species of Pine, — bleached, stained with aniline green, 

 and mounted in glycerine jelly. These sections " show (1) fibro-vas- 

 cular patch of matter in centre. (2) Mesophyll surrounding this tissue, 

 with a number of openings (resin ducts) in it, (3) Narrow cortical 

 area," and the accompanying note-book contains photo-micrographs or 

 the slides, — an excellent idea, and one worthy of more frequent imita- 

 tion. Slides 2, 3, 5, and 6 are prepared by S. Winsor Baker, and are, 

 respectively, Stained Pinnule of Fern, Diatoms from Mobile Bay, 

 Transverse Section of Skin of Banana, Striated Muscle from Leg of 

 Dytiscus. This last is stained with carmine and mounted in glycerine 

 jelly, — a very interesting object to those not familiar with it. A critic 

 suggests in the note-book that these are all common objects. The rapid 

 improvement in microscopical methods should certainly spur members 

 to do their best work and to offer only a choice selection. 



One of the slides of this box is contributed by a lady who is not the 

 pi-eparer. Comparatively few preparations by ladies find their way 

 into the Club boxes. We cannot too warmly urge upon the attention 

 of ladies the fascination and instruction to be found in the use of the 

 microscope, a bi-anch of science for which nature has especially 

 adapted them both mentally and manually. If, as some would have 

 us believe, the limit of perfection in the construction of the microscope 

 has been reached, the field for its use is absolutely illimitable, and though 

 but few will make brilliant, or even important, discoveries in micro- 

 scopical science, a general advance all along the line will result from 

 the multitude of workers. That more ladies devote their surplus 

 . leisure and brain power to the faithful, persistent use of the microscope 

 is our earnest wish. 



