The Intelligent Use of the Microscope

This useful little book was written as a handbook for beginners. In simple, direct language the author presents the principles of image formation and their practical application in the optical microscope. Numerical aperture and resolution are discussed clearly and their importance to the microscopist is emphasized. Instructions for obtaining critical illumination and Kohler illumination are presented along with the reasons behind every step. A useful chapter on the choice of equipment is given, including precautions for the beginner who may be considering the purchase of a secondhand instrument. As this book was written principally for the British public, most of the examples refer to instruments of British manufacturers, but there are sufficient similarities between these and American instruments so that the advice of the author is still applicable. A chapter on filters and another on photomicrography are of most interest to the experienced micro-scopist. Here the author gives valuable information directly relevant to the problems of the microscopist who attempts to capture in a black-and-white photograph the contrast and detail he sees in his stained preparations. A small chapter on the phase-contrast microscope presents the fundamentals of this newly developed instrument. There is a small reference bibliography of more advanced texts on microscopy and a few citations of the literature of phase-contrast microscopy. An index is provided. This book should be in the libraries of all departments concerned with teaching students. This volume is intended to acquaint the student with health information which will be valuable to him as a responsible member of the community. It surveys a vast area of knowledge about diseases, sanitation, child care, nutritional disorders, accidents, and related subjects. There is even a chapter on socio-sexual problems. Each of these chapters is broken down into a hierarchy of units which deal with various aspects of the larger headings. Illustrations include statistical charts and tables. The author's style is reasonably clear; the book is comprehensive, containing a description of many diseases and disorders which are common enough to be of general interest. They are ordered according to causative factors or environments which produce them. The community is naturally interested in knowing what conditions permit the various diseases to flourish in order to guard against them. This idea of preventive as opposed to remedial measures is at the heart of the author's purpose in making this book available. In order to prevent or alleviate unhealthy conditions, it is …