Abstract
MOUNTING IN GLYCERINE.—It is often found desirable to mount very thin objects in glycerine, for which no special cell is requisite, and in which the thickness of a cell would be a disadvantage. To accomplish this was often a work of difficulty, since the presence of the smallest amount of glycerine outside the thin glass cover prevented the adhesion of the luting by means of which the cover was to be secured to the slide. Since the introduction of gum dammar dissolved in benzole to the attention of microscopists, this disadvantage has almost wholly vanished. It is now comparatively easy to mount such objects in the following manner. A small drop of glycerine, just enough for the purpose, is let fall in the centre of an ordinary cleaned slide, the object is then placed in the glycerine, having been previously soaked in benzole if any difficulty was likely to be experienced on account of contained air; a cover (say three quarters square) of thin glass is placed over, the object and pressed down, taking care that the object remains in the centre; a wire clip then applied holds the cover in its place. If too much glycerine has been used, blotting-paper or a camel-hair pencil will remove all that issues beyond the edge of the cover. If too little, the addition of more at one edge will supply the deficiency, and the superfluous remainder may be wiped away. Thus secured by the clip the edges of the cover may be painted round with gum dammar in benzole, and when dry and firm (in a day or two) the clip may be removed, and the surface of the slide carefully washed to remove any trace of glycerine. The clip may be replaced, and a second thin coating of dammar laid over the first, or old gold size may be used instead. When this is dry “papering” the slide in the usual way helps to provide against accident. The advantages derived from the use of this method are chiefly the facility with which the cover is attached, notwithstanding the presence of a trace of glycerine on the slide and cover, which it is not easy to avoid; and, so far as the experience of two years can vouch, freedom from leakage afterwards, especially when covered with paper. This plan succeeds best with objects as thin as the minute spores of fungi, delicate hairs, &c., and a one-eighth objective may be employed in their examination.
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C., M. Notes on Microscopy . Nature 5, 244 (1872). https://doi.org/10.1038/005244c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/005244c0