Microscopical Manipulation

Abstract

THIS little book is the substance of a course of instruction given by Mr. Suffolk in the spring to members of the Quekett Club. It will be useful to those persons who amuse themselves with microscopes, and do not care to purchase the scientific treatises of Dr. Carpenter or Dr. Beale. There is a chapter for the very youngest beginner on the Various parts of an English compound microscope and their uses; then we have hints about the cutting of glass and the old directions as to making cells; mounting objects in balsam and in fluid is next dealt with—the old, old routine methods being detailed once again, with an allusion to Dr. Bastian's process with benzine. It is a pity that Mr. Suffolk has not made himself acquainted with some of the many methods of mounting and preparing objects in use on the Continent, which he might have picked up from Stricker's handbook, Frey's work, or other similar treatises. The best chapter in the book is that on polarised light, because it deals with a subject rather slighted in other works of this kind, in a clear and intelligent manner. We were not, however, prepared for the following in a work on microscopical manipulation:— “The undulatory motion of light would seem to be expressed with considerable clearness in the 1st chapter of Genesis, when read in the original Hebrew, which, in common with the other languages of the same family, is remarkable for the numerous inflexions of its verb, which gives it a delicacy and precision of expression unattainable in Western languages.” Mr. Suffolk is quite right in considering that more attention should be paid to the use of polarised light as demonstrating structure, than has been done hitherter. A necessary step towards this is that microscopists should properly understand what are the conditions of production of colour with the polariscope, and not be content with the mere sight of a pretty display. This little book of Mr. Suffolk's will not do much, we fear, to convert what we may call microscopical play into microscopical science. Its receipts and directions are such as will be useful to the man who cares merely to make a series of pretty slides for exhibition to his friends, but do not help the student wishing to add to the storehouse of science. Nothing is said of the manner of studying living objects, living cells, living cilia, living protoplasm; nor do we find an allusion to the use of chromic acid, section instruments, methods of embedding, of gold and silver staining, or other processes important to a working microscopist. The gold and silver-staining methods might have been given if only for the benefit of those who like to make gorgeous preparations.

Microscopical Manipulation.

By W. T. Suffolk (Gillman, 1870.)