56 
Journal of the 
about them, as they have been but a short time finished. Of 
course, to fasten up fluids, it requires more care, and as yet I can 
hardly say which I shall call the best method, but will, when I 
have fairly completed the experiments I am making, give you 
some hints. 
Of the advantages of wax cells, one is that it is no more trouble 
to make a thick or deep cell than a thin or shallow one, and takes 
no more time. It is a very expeditious method — no waiting for 
varnish to dry before you can apply another coat. Again, the cell 
is not soft enough to crush by any ordinary accident, and the 
tenacity of wax will enable it to withstand any ordinary, or I 
might even say extraordinary, blow without removing the cover, 
which is a great advantage over the ordinary cement cells. 
Note. — Since reading the above paper before the Microscopical 
Society, I have endeavoured to adopt some plan to meet the objec¬ 
tion of a member—the difficulty of cleaning the cell with benzine. 
This can easily be accomplished by covering the glass slip with 
a coating of solution of gum tragacanth to which a small quantity 
of sugar lias been added, allowing it to dry before the application 
of the wax, when the marks of the knife left in turning out the cell 
can be removed by merely washing in water only. But these cells 
would not do for mounting objects in glycerine, water, tfcc., and of 
course the question of the adhesion of the wax to the slide would 
be raised ; but carry the process a little further — that is, soak the 
slide with the cell on in water, and the cell will be freed ; then 
carefully wash it well to remove all gum and when dry apply to 
another slide. 
By this use of gum you can make any number of cells, and keep 
them by you, as you would glass and vulcanite cells. 
I would also mention that a late number of the English Mechanic 
contains a paper by Mr. G. Fell, of Buffalo, U.S.A., giving a 
long account of his mode of proceeding in making wax cells, but 
the whole process is based upon having a metal ring for the ground¬ 
work. 
As to cell making, I am afraid his system is so complicated that 
few who have tried mine will care to work with his. As I have 
pointed out, by my process there is no limit to size or depth , by his 
you must be guided by the metal rings procurable. 
