The Microscope and How to Use It

by Georg Stehli

A world of pleasure, excitement and new knowledge awaits one who learns to use the microscope — a world in which table salt crystals appear as jewels, a drop of water swarms with life, a butterfly's wings reveal a cascade of multicolored particles. This book is for anyone who would like to enter that world, whether or not he has ever used a microscope before. No special knowledge is required. In non-technical language and with generous use of illustration, the author explains how a microscope works and what kind to use; how to adjust the instrument and position the specimens to be viewed; examination of simple objects: a human hair, feathers, milk. At the same time, he shows how to prepare the objects, what to purchase for the purpose, how to care for it; one's every question is anticipated and clearly answered. The fundamentals understood, the reader is taken into further exploration viewing insect parts, diatoms, plankton, molds, leaves, ferns, fruit rinds, fish scales, animal parts. As we proceed, we learn step by step the techniques involved: use of chloroform, preparation of permanent slides, mounting in glycerine, preparing dye solutions, dissection, and blood smearing. We learn how to detect fat, find Vitamin C in food substances, prepare a frog for examination, view and distinguish bacteria, use the oil-immersion objective, dye bacilli spores, do microphotography, cut sections with the microtome.
Following Dr. Stehli's careful instructions, we have entered and gone well into the fascinating world of microscopy. The invention of the microscope itself started science on new courses, entire fields of new knowledge. The use of a comparatively simple microscope today can start one on a lifetime interest, an absorbing hobby, a career in science, or a permanent addition to one's cultural background. This book provides all the help needed, whether one is adult or student, hobbyist or scientifically serious, seeking education or merely curious about the minute world that exists all about us. 119 photographs and drawings.

Genres: Reference

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1970

Reviews

[Dennis Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Microscope forever altered the scope of human knowledge. It revealed a vast universe of tiny living things and allowed for the study of the hidden structures of organisms. This book is written for the microscope hobbyist but anyone interested in exploring the micro-cosmos should have it as a guide. There is detailed information on the use of the microscope: calculating magnification, preparing slides, using chemical dyes and fixatives, collecting samples, equipment care and maintenance, etc. For some readers there maybe too much detail or the writing might be less engaging than what they are accustomed; the book is a 1960 English edition, fortunately saved for posterity by Dover Books. There is some unexpected advice such as in preparing tissues samples, “To kill a frog quickly and without pain, grasp it by the hind legs and slam its head against the edge of the table.” So the book may not be for everyone. But I think any teacher who uses microscopy in a life sciences classroom will find this book a useful resource and full of potential lessons. I also recommend it for anyone who would wish to follow in the footsteps of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, Robert Hooke and Louis Pasteur.