18^0.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 22Y 



We next come to the section-cutting of hard vegetable tissues like 

 Pareira Brava, which requires special soaking, but no imbedding. 

 Cutting sections of fruit stones, coral, minerals, etc., are not in order. 

 They require the use of a saw and grindstone. 



The student is next ready for the more difficult task of sectioning ani- 

 mal tissues and spongy vegetable substances, which are best imbedded 

 in celloidin. I find that it is better for the student to learn to make sec- 

 tions and carefully handle them, before he attempts to mount specimens 

 which require sectioning. 



An artistic talent is not the good fortune of every one who studies mi- 

 croscopy, but any one can learn to draw more or less correctly what he 

 sees under the microscope. The practice teaches the student to closely 

 observe what he sees. Commence drawing at the first lesson. 



Urinary analysis is work suitable for the pharmacist, but requires 

 special instructions from teachers or books. 



Every one who works with the microscope should start a cabinet of 

 permanent mounts. Whenever mounting a substance, one should make 

 several preparations, so that he can select one for his cabinet and ex- 

 change the others w^ith his brother microscopists. For use in examin- 

 ing drugs, it is well to have mounts of the true drugs and also of known 

 adulterants. 



Study the illustrations of the microscopic appearance of drugs as given 

 in Maisch's Organic Materia Afedica and the Dispensatories^ as well 

 as other works on Pharmacognosy. He who has time and inclination 

 will profit by work in photo-micrography. 



There is a large field for individual and original work for the micro- 

 scope in Pharmacy. The pharmacist who accomplishes most will be 

 the one who sets apart a certain amount of time each day or week for 

 the use of the instrument. There is an infatuation about the use of the 

 microscope which sometimes leads the microscopist to devote more 

 time to the subject at one sitting than can be afibrded, so that the in- 

 strument must be set aside and neglected. Therefore I advise every 

 pharmacist who takes up the study of microscopy to lay out a schedule 

 of work, and follow it closely. 



System and order are of as much value to the microscopist as to any 

 workman. It is best to have a table, closet, or box for the accessories 

 and reagents, so that they may be kept together. The microscope is 

 very conveniently kept under a bell-glass, so that it is always ready for 

 use at a moment's notice. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



I am pleased to see the notice of my esteemed friend W. H. Bullock, 

 in the July number. I am sorry to have him leave Chicago, but I hope 

 it will be for the best. You will find him a gentleman in every sense 

 of the term. I have been acquainted with him for i6 years, and have 

 seen his best work. I can state without any reserve that his stands are 

 the best ever made by the hands of man. I have examined the stands 

 of other makers and there is no comparison. — Pierce Tyrelh M. D.^ 

 Elgin ^ II L 



