310 TllK AMERICAN MONTHLY [Nov., 



A Handy Method of Mounting. 



l\\ R. B. COUTANT. 



TAKUYTOWN, X. Y. 



In view of the many lumily meihods of niountini,' in vogue, 

 any suggestion of new means to thai end requires both an ex- 

 planation and an apology. The devices described herein are 

 those of a busy man who no longer has time to practice the dif- 

 ticult art of ringing .'^lides and of buihling cells with varnishes 

 and cements. In laying aside the turn-table, the glass slips and 

 the brush, however, he has no wish to decry the products of their 

 use. On the contrary he regrets tliat he is comjielled to employ 

 the crude methods that he recommends, and that he is obliged 

 to content himself with their imperfect results. For these rea- 

 sons he addresses himself to those amateurs whose passion for 

 the use of the microscope is constantly thwarted l>y the demands 

 of their every day work, and who, if they tlid not make use of 

 "handy methods" would have to relinquish tlicir favorite pur- 

 suit. By the means to be described a cell can l)e made, an ob- 

 ject placed, a preservative fluid instilled, a c )ver glass sealed, a 

 glide covered, and a label i)asted, in about the time it takes to 

 describe the steps of the procedure. No priority is claimed by 

 the writer in the use of any of the materials named excepting 

 the rubber adhesive plaster, and very likely this has been em- 

 ployed by some one else. The most that belongs to him is the 

 grouping together of the various details given into a working for- 

 mula. 



MATERIALS REQUIRED. 



1. A piece of firm, unglazed paste-board, of a thickness de- 

 pendent upon the depth of the cell to be made. 



2. A pair of scissors and a pocket knife. 



3. A spool of thin rubber adhesive plaster, one inch wide. 



4. A metal j)unch or cork borer, i inch in diameter. 



5. Brunswick black, 

 f). Marine glue. 



7. Camel's hair bru.shes. 



8. Thin cover gla.sses, i inch wide. 



9. The oVjject to be mounted, properly prepared. 



10. The mounting medium. 



11. Paper covers for slides. 12. Labels. 



