MANIPULATION. 



CHAPTER I. 



The microscope, and all the apparatus necessary for the 

 investigation of every class of object, having been fully 

 described in the preceding pages, it remains now to point 

 out the different methods by which these objects may be 

 exhibited, as well as mounted and preserved for future 

 examination. As this work is chiefly intended to afford 

 information to those who are young in microscopical science, 

 and who, therefore, cannot be supposed to be familiar with 

 many of the methods employed in the preparation of the 

 different kinds of objects, the author must be excused for 

 entering somewhat in detail into a few of the most important 

 processes ; as it is requisite that the directions given should be 

 sufficiently plain to enable even the most inexperienced 

 manipulator to carry them into effect. 



All structures intended to be viewed by transmitted light 

 requiring glass of some form or other, either for their support 

 whilst being investigated, or when permanently mounted, it 

 becomes necessary first to allude to the best mode of cutting 

 such glass into the proper shape by a diamond. 



Diamonds for Cutting Glass. — The diamonds required by 

 the microscopist are two in number, the plough or glazier's 

 diamond, and the writing diamond. The former is necessary 

 for cutting the thin plate or crown glass for slides, and for 

 cells and boxes to mount objects in, whilst thg latter is 

 required for cutting the thin glass for covers, and for writing 

 the names of the objects on the end of the slides. The 

 plough or glazier's diamond is represented by fig. 168, and 

 consists of a shaft or handle, and of an oblong piece either of 

 17* 



