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'January 
ANALYSES OF BOOKS. 
How to Work with the Microscope. By Lionel S. Beale, 
F.R.S., President of the Royal Microscopical Society. 
Fifth Edition. 518 pp. London : Harrison, Pall Mall. 
Philadelphia : Lindsay and Blakeston. 
The reader of this comprehensive treatise on all that relates to 
practical research by means of the microscope will hardly recog- 
nise, in the present magnificent volume, the little book of 
124 pages, bearing the same title, published in 1857. “ How to 
Work ” most fitly explains the character of the book, every page 
being eminently practical ; that preceding the title-page contains 
a note to the reader, in which the author says — “ This work may 
be read by carefully studying the figures, and then referring to 
the text. A description of every drawing is placed beneath it, 
and a reference is given to the page upon which the subject of 
the drawing is considered.” 
The illustrations form a very important part of the book, oc- 
cupying no less than 98 pages, exclusive of cuts inserted in the 
text. The figures of tissues, especially those very highly mag- 
nified, are marvels of delicate wood engraving, — a mode of 
reproducing drawings greatly in favour with the author, and ex- 
clusively employed throughout the work. By a very simple and 
ingenious process some of them are printed in three colours, 
with good effeCt. Three eleCtro-copies of the wood block are 
taken ; from one every portion is cut away except the bio-plasts, 
coloured red by the alkaline carmine stain ; on the second, the 
capillaries injecfted with blue are left, and the remaining block is 
arranged to give the outline and shading in black. The com- 
bination of the three blocks presents an accurate view of tissues 
finely injecfted and stained. 
The seven parts into which the book is divided comprise : — 
1. The Microscope and all necessary apparatus, with the mode 
of using the various appliances. Ten pages are devoted to the 
manner of making drawings with the microscope, and the means 
of multiplying them by engraving and lithography. 
2. On examining, preparing, and preserving objects, including 
dissection, cutting thin sections, injecting, and the use of various 
staining materials. This important part occupies 53 pages, and 
is so arranged that beginners can readily find the portions useful 
to them without being troubled by the very detailed account of 
processes more fitted for the advanced student. Respecting 
the use of dyes, the author is especially careful to distin- 
guish between stains used for colouring bioplasm , or living 
