8
1. LABORATORY ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
in tissue study where every field of view differs from the ones before in a
constantly variable panorama. The electron microscope laboratories
which are deservedly famous for their work with tissues are all built
around individuals, or groups of individuals, who are competent investigators in their field of choice, as well as being excellent technicians at the
instrumental level. They explore their own interests and develop their
own programs.
There are several distinct groups of biological scientists who are interested in tissue morphology. Their disciplines are sufficiently close so
that they might efficiently share a common laboratory facility, but as
soon as one starts even to add bacteriology, complications begin. The
preparatory techniques of the bacteriologist are quite different from the
histologist, although these, of course, can be carried out in separate
quarters. More serious is the problem of the microscope if it is being
shared. The bacteriologist is apt to be working with metal-shadowed
material, and therefore he does not want an aperture in the objective
polepiece. The person working with tissues requires the objective aperture. In most microscopes it is not too easy to switch and then recompensate as certainly would prove necessary. The histologist spends much of
his time doing "survey" work where great resolution is not required.
Thus the microscope operates for so much time that contamination
builds up, and in essence the microscope does not stay "in tune." This is
unsatisfactory to the bacteriologist whose specimens are pretty much
alike all over, and who does not have to search for hours to find out what
he has, or to take a representative series of micrographs. He does want,
though, a few pictures with very high resolution. Thus, the problems of
the bacteriologist and histologist are sufficiently different so that each is
annoyed by what the other does, and real inefficiency is introduced if they
must work with common facilities.
1.4. Service Personnel
Companies which manufacture electron microscopes have made efforts
to establish service departments which make the initial installation, train
investigators in the operation of the microscope, and can more or less
maintain the instrument in operating condition. One cannot assume,
however, that because he has a service contract all difficulties will be
automatically taken care of. Service personnel are limited by human
1. LABORATORY ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
in tissue study where every field of view differs from the ones before in a
constantly variable panorama. The electron microscope laboratories
which are deservedly famous for their work with tissues are all built
around individuals, or groups of individuals, who are competent investigators in their field of choice, as well as being excellent technicians at the
instrumental level. They explore their own interests and develop their
own programs.
There are several distinct groups of biological scientists who are interested in tissue morphology. Their disciplines are sufficiently close so
that they might efficiently share a common laboratory facility, but as
soon as one starts even to add bacteriology, complications begin. The
preparatory techniques of the bacteriologist are quite different from the
histologist, although these, of course, can be carried out in separate
quarters. More serious is the problem of the microscope if it is being
shared. The bacteriologist is apt to be working with metal-shadowed
material, and therefore he does not want an aperture in the objective
polepiece. The person working with tissues requires the objective aperture. In most microscopes it is not too easy to switch and then recompensate as certainly would prove necessary. The histologist spends much of
his time doing "survey" work where great resolution is not required.
Thus the microscope operates for so much time that contamination
builds up, and in essence the microscope does not stay "in tune." This is
unsatisfactory to the bacteriologist whose specimens are pretty much
alike all over, and who does not have to search for hours to find out what
he has, or to take a representative series of micrographs. He does want,
though, a few pictures with very high resolution. Thus, the problems of
the bacteriologist and histologist are sufficiently different so that each is
annoyed by what the other does, and real inefficiency is introduced if they
must work with common facilities.
1.4. Service Personnel
Companies which manufacture electron microscopes have made efforts
to establish service departments which make the initial installation, train
investigators in the operation of the microscope, and can more or less
maintain the instrument in operating condition. One cannot assume,
however, that because he has a service contract all difficulties will be
automatically taken care of. Service personnel are limited by human