The preparation & mounting of microscopic objectsDavies, Thomas
Science
The preparation & mounting of microscopic objects
Davies, Thomas
Microscopy -- Technique
benzole, until the whole of the gritty particles are removed into
the filter. A washing-bottle is then supplied with benzole, and the
contents of the filter washed to the bottom until that liquid passes
off pure, which may be tested by placing a drop from the point of the
funnel on a warm slip of glass or bright platinum, when, if pure,
the benzole will evaporate without residue or tarnish; if grease be
present, the washings must be continued until they are free from it.
After rinsing through _weak_ acid, or alcohol, for final purification,
the calcareous forms will be ready for mounting.
The filter and its contents may be left to dry spontaneously, when the
latter can be examined by the microscope. Should time be an object,
rapid drying may be effected by any of the usual methods; one of
which, recommended by Mr. Dale, is to blow a stream of hot air through
a glass tube held in the flame of a Bunsen’s burner. The lower the
boiling-point of the benzole, the more readily can the specimens be
freed from it. A commoner quality may be used, but it is more difficult
to dry afterwards.
Pure benzole being costly, this may appear an expensive process; but,
with the exception of a trifling loss by evaporation, the whole may be
recovered by simple distillation. The mixture of tallow and benzole
being placed in a retort in a hot-water, a steam, or a sand bath, the
benzole will pass into the receiver, and the tallow or other impurities
will remain in the retort. When the whole of the benzole has distilled
over, which is ascertained by its ceasing to drop from the condenser,
the heat is withdrawn and the retort allowed to cool before the
addition of fresh material. Half a dozen to a dozen filters, each with
its specimen, can be in process at the same time; and the distillation
of the recovered benzole progresses as quickly as the filtration, which
was practically proved on the occasion named. Great caution in the use
of benzole is to be taken in the approach of lights to the inflammable
vapour.
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