130 THE MICROSCOPE AND ITS REVELATIONS. 



CHAPTER IV. 

 MANAGEMENT OF THE MICROSCOPE. 



129. Table. The Table on which the Microscope is placed when in 

 use, should be one whose size enables it also to receive the various appur- 

 tenances which the observer finds it convenient to have within his reach, 

 and whose steadiness is such as to allow of his arms being rested upon it 

 without any yielding ; it should, moreover, be so framed, as to be as free 

 as possible from any tendency to transmit the vibrations of the building 

 or floor whereon it stands. The working Microscopist will find it a matter 

 of great convenience to have a Table specially set apart for his use, fur- 

 nished with drawers, in which are contained the various Accessories he 

 may require for the preparation and mounting of objects. If he should 

 desire to carry about with him all the apparatus he may need for the 

 prosecution of his investigations in different localities, and for the 

 mounting of his preparations on the spot, he will find it very convenient 

 to provide himself with a small Cabinet, fitted with drawers in which 

 every requisite can be securely packed, and of such a height, that, when 

 laid upon an ordinary table, it may bring up the Quekett or other Dis- 

 secting Microscope placed upon it to the position most convenient for use. 1 

 If the Microscope be one which is not very readily taken out from and 

 put back into its case, it is very convenient to cover it with a large bell- 

 glass ; which may be so suspended from the ceiling, by a cord carrying a 

 counterpoise at its other end, as to be raised or lowered with the least 

 possible trouble, and to be entirely out of the way when the Microscope 

 is in use. Similar but smaller bell-glasses (wine-glasses whose stems have 

 been broken answer very well) are also useful for the protection of objects 

 which are in course of being examined or prepared, and which it is desir- 

 able to seclude from dust. For the purpose of Demonstration in the 

 Lecture-room, a small traversing platform may be constructed to run 

 easily upon rollers, and to carry the Microscope and Lamp securely 

 clamped down upon it, so as to be passed from one observer to another. 

 For Demonstration to a small party sitting round a circular table, it is 

 convenient to employ a /^-shaped platform, the vertical angle of which 

 is pivoted to a weight placed in the centre of the table, whilst the angles 



1 The dimensions of the Cabinet which the Author has had constructed for 

 himself (its size being so adapted to that of the box of his Crouch's Binocular 

 that the two are received into the same travelling-case) are 14 inches long, 7 inches 

 broad, and 4 inches high. In the middle there are five shallow drawers, 5 inches 

 broad, containing dissecting apparatus, large flat cells, glass-covers, syringes, etc. ; 

 on one side are two drawers, each 3 inches broad, the upper one, containing slides, 

 cells, etc., rather more than one inch deep inside, the lower, for larger pieces of 

 apparatus, 2 inches deep ; on the other side is a single drawer of the same breadth 

 and 3 inches deep, for bottles containing solutions, cements, etc. 



