Microscopy Forum

I just gotta share something that happened today because of how cool I found the whole experience. So ten days ago I was sectioning (or trying to section) a stem using my cheap little hand microtome. I'm not the most coordinated and when my hand slipped I ended up with five stitches in my thumb. Today I got the stitches out and had to swing by the companies health-care contractor for clearance to return to work at my full capacity and duties, basically just formally tell their doctor than I'm all better. Naturally he asked how I cut my thumb, and I told him.

 We ended up talking about microscopes more than anything! He wanted to know how I fix specimens and if I use a freezing microtome or  set them in wax or what. We talked about the quality of the optics in old 'scopes and staining samples and differentiating structures. He came alive talking about how he used to prepare sections of liver and other little things from the butcher shop. About how the whole process was so long just to get a few sections. He talked about how nowadays the whole process is mechanical, automated and dead; devoid of the grace and slow artistry he remembered when he was in school. Lamenting that technicians can just toss a specimen into  machine and come into a prepared slide in the morning. He reminisced about photomicrography, setting up the camera and focusing the image on a ground glass plate only to replace it with a large formate film cartridge, and developing images of incredible resolution and shocking beauty. He said he was going to have to get back into it again and I left the place beaming.

 Dr. Carlson, if you're out there, you sir are mad awesome!

Ha! I hadn't considered that, though ETOH and glassware (my wife's a glass blower!) aren't what I think I'd ask for… there are a couple solvents and clearing agents that have been troubling to find. I just thought it was great that someone had fond memories of the old methods I prefer, and that there could be other enthusiasts in my daily life if only I could find them!