924 SUMBIAEY OF CUKKENT RESEAKCHES RELATING TO 



handling in carriage ; but I Lave known of no breakage, although I 

 have often carried boxes in my pockets without any precaution. The 

 7-inch racks accommodate 30 slides, except where cells of more than 

 l-8th in. in depth occur, and then such a slide has the space of two 

 allotted to it. This appeared to be the practical limit of approxima- 

 tion of slides within our own experience, and the height of the box 

 seemed better than if shortened for 25, giving accommodation for 

 the additional 5 without appreciable increase of cost. As a box 

 is seldom presumed to be filled, there is no advantage in one nuniber 

 over another in the way of estimating the number of slides in a 

 collection. 



In a system so inexpensive, a good deal of space may be left for 

 estimated accessions, and a scientific classification of slides may be 

 maintained with a minimum of trouble. When the space thus left is 

 filled, it only remains to start a new box, which follows in order on the 

 shelf the one which has become crowded, without any change in the 

 succeeding boxes. Sometimes a part of the contents of the crowded box 

 may be transferred to the new and empty one, to admit of further 

 growth in the former ; in this case the index is to be cleaned of the 

 titles of the slides removed. 



I have had these boxes (including the movable cover-index and 

 outer case) made, in lots of 200 at a time, for 12 cents (6d.) apiece, 

 the racks for 8c. (id.) per pair, and the printing for about 2c. (Id.) 

 per box. With smoother finished racks and glazed paper lining I 

 think the boxes could be made for 25c. or Is. apiece, this allowing 

 only the manufacturer's profit. The making (12c.) of the boxes in- 

 cluded the gluing-in of the racks and pasting of labels. Made on a 

 proper scale, these ought to cost less in England than here. Of 

 course, where the taste and the means for gratifying it co-exist, the 

 boxes may imitate any quality of binding, and be of any degree of 

 fineness of inside finish." 



Cataloguing, Labelling, and Storing Preparations.* — Prof. S. 

 H. Ga«e, in a paper presented to the Chicago Meeting of the American 

 Society of Microscopists, says : — 



" To every one possessing a microscopic slide one or more of the 

 considerations named in the title of this paper appears of importance. 

 All of them are, however, of especial importance to the teacher and 

 investigator. To the investigator his specimens are the most precious 

 of his possessions, for they contain the facts which he tries to in- 

 terpret, and they remain the same while his knowledge, and hence his 

 power of interpretation, increase. They thus form the basis of further 

 or more correct knowledge ; but in order to be safe guides for the 

 student, teacher, or investigator, it seems to the writer that every 

 preparation should possess two things — viz. a label, and a catalogue 

 or history. This catalogue should indicate all that is known of a 

 specimen at the time of its preparation, and all of the processes by 

 which it is treated. It is only by the possession of such a complete 



* 'Ciiicngo Times,' 8tli August, 18S3, iu advance of Proc. Amer. Soc. Micr., 

 6tli Ann. Meeting, 1883. 



