One Free Wish

Fantasy Microscopy

I can't help it. I'm a visual person so I think like the daily funnies. Have you following the social commentary and comic adventures of the little girl in Maine? If we skip over all the unrelated stuff, she has found herself in a parallel universe where everyone gets one and only one free wish. Of course there are strings and consequences attached.

If you could have one free microscopy wish what would it be? Take a moment and think about it while I type about my ideas.

My immediately thoughts went to a new pol scope. Nice flat field apochromatic long working distance objectives with high NA. I'd want a 5, 10, 25, 40 and high dry 60X set. Hey, it's my wish, make your own! Of course I would want a good pair of oculars, around 10x, one with a cross-hair and the other with an ocular scale. The polars would be able to rotate a full 360 with the analyzer set with clicks stops every 90 degrees. Of course the stage would glide smooth and true with just light finger pressure. I'd want a fine adjustment on the stage for measuring interfacial angles and extinction positions. A 1st order red and quarter wave plate would be available as would a 20 order quartz wedge. A day-light balanced light source what would give me true daylight at any intensity would be a great plus. A full set of Cargill refractive index liquids and a 3 meg camera would round out the pol scope experience.

But then I thought of microchemical testing. A complete set of all the reagents (approximately two grams) discussed in Holmes' (Andrew, not Sherlock) 'Rapid Spot Test', Chamot and Mason Vol II 'Handbook of Chemical Spot Testing' and how could I forget Feigl's 'Spot Test'. Samples of knowns would be a must. Of course I would need a stereomicroscope, a nice pol scope with achromatic objectives, (10 and 20X might be enough!) spot plates, support equipment and chemicals.

But what about a nice hotstage so I could do McCrone's Fusion Preps and determine melting points. How could I forget watching a red addition compound form with picric acid and an aromatic ring compound? Then by determining it's melting point, the eutectic point on either side of the additional compound I could identify the compound. Of course you need a big standard chemical library and database.

I still haven't gotten over my love affair with the IR microscope and mini-diamond anvil cells. I would want a good reference library and standard set. With that and a germanium ATR you can accomplish wonders with both organic and inorganic materials.

Speaking of inorganic what about a nice SEM? Say a low pressure SEM with a voltage range of 2 to 35 KV. BS and SE detectors, EDS and WDS would be more than welcome. I'd like a little better high resolution scan for photomicrographs, something around 2 or 3 meg. A large stage and sample compartment say 16 inch opening and 40 inch chamber capable of supporting and moving 20 pounds would be a must. A life time supply of liquid nitrogen and a prepaid full service contract would be the frosting on the cake.

I've just started exploring TEM so I would like one of the newer computer driven ones with an EDS attached. But even more I would like the knowledge to run that system efficiently and confidently.

So maybe what I would really want is training. Total and free access to any training, any where and any time could be the answer to my single wish. In retrospect, I suspect that's the attached string. If I didn't get to use my training I don't think I would be professional and personally fulfilled.

A good printed library would be nice. I can't begin to think of all the books I would want. Since I'm typing free hand without a reference list to work from let me just state I would want a few more books on pollen and mold spore identification, A set of microscopy dictionaries from the 1800's, 1900's, and 2000's are simply required. There many be 5 to 10 classic's on microchemical drug testing and another 6 or 7 must haves on plant identifications. May be 20 -30 on microchemical testing and I would want both the first edition of the McCrone particle atlas as well as the second 6 volume set published later. The asbestos atlas would important and how could I forget my need to have 10 or 14 solid references to diatom and 'pond water' microscopy. Good descriptive optical data on all the minerals would be valuable as would the forensic microscopy classics and references. I would need a complete set of all the publications of Kirk's 'Criminal Investigation'. I remember picking up a small monograph on the identification of pine needles based on thin section morphology. I wonder how many other interesting and forgotten references are out there! What kind of library would be missing Delly's publications on photomicroscopy and all of the references he quotes. A complete set of the Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Society, all of the publications from The Royal Microscopy Society and its journals would fill a couple shelves. The latest edition of Holmes 'Analysis and Identification of Cigarette, Pipe and Cigar Ash' would of course be a pearl of great value.

Bu I don't think I have enough housing for such a collection. Especially, since it's just the tip of the iceberg.

Looking back over the list I realize my wish should be to be a competent generalist. A skilled dabbler in all areas of microscopy, a master of none. I want to be someone who enjoys trying new areas of microscopy and gets paid to play in these areas. That would be my wish.

By the great lord Walter, I must live in that universe, 'cause that's what I'm working on!