Microscopical Essays, 163 



few, large, and diflincl, the fplit pieces referable fhiped fatins, 

 in, a way fcarce to be credited. It is in fuch that the outer coats 

 of thefe veflels are mod happily of all to be examined. 



The Method or preparing Salts and Saline Sub- 

 stances FOR THE VIEWING THEIR CONFIGURATIONS. 



Diffolve the fubjeft to be examined in no larger a quantity of 

 river or rain water than is fufficient to faturate it 5 if it is a body 

 eafily diffblvable, make ufe of cold water, otherwife make the 

 water warm or hot, or even boiling, according as you find it 

 neceffary. After it is perfectly diflolved, let it reft for fome hours, 

 till, if over-charged, the redundant faline particles are pre- 

 cipitated, and fettle at the bottom, or moot into cry H als ; by 

 which means you are moft likely to have a folution of the fame 

 ftrength at one time as at another; that is, a folution fully 

 charged with as much as it can hold up, and no more : and by 

 thefe precautions the configurations appear alike, how often 

 foever tried : whereas, if the water be lefs faturated, the pro- 

 portions, at different times, will be fubjea to more uncertainty ; 

 and if it be examined before fuch feparation and precipitation of 

 the redundant falts, little more will be feen than a confufed mafs 

 of cryftals. 



The folution being thus prepared, take up a drop of it with a 

 goofe quill, cut in fafhion of a fcoop, and place it on a flat flip of 

 glafs, of about three quarters of an inch in width, and between 

 three and four inches long, fpreading it on the glafs with the 

 quill, in either a round or oval figure, till it appears a quarter of 

 an inch or more in diameter, and fo {hallow as to rife very little 



W 2 above 



