24 SOME HINTS ON THE PREPARATION AND 



will be found firmly fixed; but the preferable way is to set it aside 

 for hardening in the usual manner. The smallest possible quantity 

 of balsam should be used, and no ringing or other finish is necessary. 



And now, having given hints as to various modes of making 

 balsam mounts, I must bring this second installment of my talks to 

 a.n end; having reached the limit of my space, without touching 

 Upon any other methods of mounting, as was my intention, and 

 which must be left to another time. 



It might be inferred, from the length at which I have dwelt 

 upon balsam and its uses, that I held it in supreme regard as a 

 mounting medium. But such is by no means the case. Whilst it 

 is invaluable as a preservative und mountings made in it are pro- 

 bably nearer to being absolutely permanent than any other it pos- 

 sesses many defects, which render it most unsuitable for mounting 

 many delicate tissues which are so frequently placed in it, thereby 

 becoming almost invisible. There are several aqueous fluids, which 



16. Mounting Table with Lamp. 



are far better suited to showing well the structure and beauties of 

 innumerable objects, and these will be treated of in future papers. 

 But their successful use, and the preparation and finishing of a per- 

 manent cell, containing them, requires a degree of skill to which the 

 student can only attain by persistent efforts, and many failures; I 

 have, therefore, thought it best to ground him well in the easier 

 methods of balsam mountings,before proceeding to the higher plains. 



