Bresser NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TELE-MICRO SET Mode D'emploi page 32

6. Condition and prepare viewed objects
6.1. Condition
This microscope features transmitted light, so that transparent specimens can be examined.
If opaque specimens are being examined, the light from below goes through the specimen, lens and eyepi-
ece to the eye and is magnified en route (direct light principle).
Some small water organisms, plant parts and animal components are transparent by nature, but many
others require pretreatment — that is, you need to make a thinnest possible slice of the object by hand
cutting or using a microtome, and then examine this sample.
6.2. Creation of thin preparation cuts
Specimens should be sliced as thin as possible. A little wax or paraffin is needed to achieve the best
results. Put the wax into a heat-safe bowl and heat it over a flame until the wax is melted. You can use a
candle flame to melt the wax.
DANGER!
Be exremely carfeful when dealing with hot wax, as there is a danger of being burned.
Then, dip the specimen several times in the liquid wax. Allow the wax that encases the specimen to harden.
Use a MicroCut or other small knife or scalpel to make very thin slices of the object in its wax casing.
DANGER!
Be extremely careful when using the MicroCut, knife or scalpel. These instruments are very
sharp and pose a risk of injury.
Place the slices on a glass slide and cover them with another slide before attempting to view them with
the microscope.
6.3. Creation of your own preparation
Put the object to be observed on a glass slide and cover the object with a drop of distilled water using the
pipette (12).
Set a cover glass (available at a well-stocked hobby shop) perpendicular to the edge of the water drop, so
that the water runs along the edge of the cover glass. Now lower now the cover glass slowly over the water
drop.
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