OF MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS. 25 



irish will readily soften it ; but, of course, it will be necessary to 

 keep separate brushes for certain purposes. 



Here it may be observed that every object should be labelled 

 with name and any other descriptive item as soon as mounted. 

 There are many little differences in the methods of doing this. 

 Some write with a diamond upon the slide itself; but this has the 

 disadvantage of being not so easily seen. For this reason a small 

 piece of paper is usually affixed to one end of the slide, on w r hich is 

 written what is required. These labels may be bought of different 

 colours and designs ; but the most simple are quite as good, and 

 very readily procured. Take a sheet of thin writing paper and 

 brush over one side a strong solution of gum, with the addition of 

 a few drops of glycerine as above recommended ; allow this to 

 dry, and then with a common gun-punch stamp out the circles, 

 which may be affixed to the slides by simply damping the gummed 

 surface, taking care to write the required name, etc., upon it be- 

 fore damping it, or else allowing it to become perfectly dry first. 



There is one difficulty which a beginner often experiences in 

 sorting and mounting certain specimens under the microscope, 

 viz., the inversion of the objects ; and it is often stated to be 

 almost impossible to work without an erector. But this difficulty 

 soon vanishes, the young student becoming used to working what 

 at first seems in contradiction to his sight. 



Let it be understood, that in giving the description of those 

 articles which are usually esteemed necessary in the various parts 

 of microscopic manipulation, I do not mean to say that without 

 many of these no work of any value can be done. There are, as 

 all will allow, certain forms of apparatus which aid the operator 

 considerably ; but the cost may be too great for him. A little 

 thought, however, will frequently overcome this difficulty, by ena- 

 bling him to make, or get made, for himself, at a comparatively 

 light expense, something which will accomplish all he desires. 

 As an example of this, a friend of mine made what he terms his 

 " universal stand," to carry various condensers, etc., etc., in the 

 following way : Take a steel or brass wire, three-sixteenths or 

 one-quarter inch thick and six or eight inches long ; " tap" into a 

 solid, or make rough and fasten with melted lead into a hollow, 

 ball. (The foot of a cabinet or work-box answers the purpose 



