258  Mmutes  of  the  PharmaccutiGal  Meeiing.  {^'''-■^ilY'iVs^''^' 
When  it  is  desired  to  mount  sections  of  substances  containing  water,  in 
balsam  or  dammar,  tbe  plan  usually  followed  is  to  soak  first  in  spirit,  then 
in  oil  of  cloves,  tlien  in  turpentine,  and  finally  in  the  balsam. 
Some  objects  are  mounted  without  any  medium ;  they  are  simply  fas- 
tened to  the  slide  either  with  or  without  gum,  and  covered  in  the  ordinary 
way.  Among  such  may  be  mentioned  thin  shavings  of  deal,  mahogany, 
elm,  etc.,  which,  of  course,  ought  to  be  taken  from  dry,  seasoned  wood. 
Opaque  objects  require  the  side  condensing  lens  for  their  illumination. 
Glass  slips  are  unnecessary,  slips  of  wood  being  usually  employed.  Pro- 
cure a  piece  of  wood,  make  it  of  the  same  width  and  length  as  a  glass  slip, 
but  hardly  so  thick  ;  then  get  a  piece  of  cardboard  of  moderate  thickness, 
cut  it  to  the  same  width  as  the  slip,  and  about  half  the  length  ;  punch  a 
hole  right  through,  not  so  large  as  the  diameter  of  a  glass  cover;  gum  it 
to  the  wood  slip  and  allow  it  to  dry.  After  the  gum  is  quite  dry,  put 
into  the  cell  now  nmde  a  few  drops  of  Brunswick  black  or  strong  mucilage  ; 
set  aside  to  harden  in  a  place  free  from  dust,  and  when  ready,  place  the 
object  upon  it;  then  cover  with  a  glass  circle,  touched  at  the  edges  with 
gold  size,  and  finish  by  covering  with  ornamental  jxii^er.  If  mounted  on 
the  Brunswick  black  it  will  fasten  itself,  as  this  cement  gives  with  the 
weight  of  the  object  (provided  it  has  not  been  dried  too  much) ;  if  mounted 
on  the  gum  it  will  be  necessary  to  breathe  upon  it  for  a  few  seconds,  and 
then  place  the  object  on  it.  Of  the  two  substances  here  mentioned  Bruns- 
wick black  is  the  best,  as  it  shows  a  good  dark  background  to  the  object. 
Pollens,  seeds,  and  hairs  are  often  mounted  in  this  way,  more  especially 
the  two  former.  The  pollen  of  the  mallow  is  a  great  favorite  from  its 
pretty  appearance.  Seeds,  if  large,  are  best  fastened  with  a  little  gum  to 
the  glass,  on  the  underside  of  which  a  piece  of  dead-black  paper  should  be 
pasted.  If  hairs  are  shown  under  condensed  light,  it  is  better  to  let  them 
remain  on  the  leaf,  unless  a  good  dark  background  can  be  given. 
Where  the  worker  is  at  a  loss  to  know  the  proper  medium  in  which  to 
mount  his  object,  his  best  plan  is  to  try  all  the  methods.  By  tliis  means 
he  finds  out  which  is  best  suited  for  the  object,  as  well  as  the  knowledge  it 
gives  him  for  future  cases  of  a  similar  nature. 
Before  closing,  I  would  again  caution  the  student  in  microscopy  to  be 
very  scrupulous  in  the  matter  of  cleanliness,  both  with  his  instrument 
and  his  tools,  and  not  to  use  anything  but  a  piece  of  soft  and  well-beaten 
chamois  skin  to  clean  the  lenses  when  dimmed  or  soiled. — Chemist  and 
Druggist,  Feb.  15,  1882. 
MINUTES  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 
Philadklphi^a,  April  18,  1882. 
Mr.  Bobbins,  in  the  absence  ot  the  President,  was  called  to  the  chair. 
The  minutes  of  the  last  pharmaceutical  meeting  were  read,  and  there 
being  no  corrections  suggested,  they  were  approved. 
Professor  Maisch  read  a  paper  upon  Chia  seed,  by  Mr.  Hiland  Flowers, 
a  graduate  of  this  College,  and  followed  the  reading  of  it  with  another,  the 
