Harmothoes longisetis

A series of cuts of the ribbonworm

How long is a tapeworm? Taenia crassicollis in almost mathematical shape.

Harmothoe longisetis is a species distinct from H. glabra, and has a more southerly distribution. This one was sent in from Naples. 'Canada B.' stands for Canada balsam, a turpentine which is made from the resin of the balsam fir tree. The colourless liquid turns into a transparent yellowish over time.

About 16% of the slides in the Vermes Collection suffer from danger of loss of primary information, mainly because of problems with the embedding medium or fading labels. Does that mean the slide becomes 'merely an aesthetic object'??

A female holotype of muddraggons, on a metal slide.

A tape worm at full length on an oversize slide. These formats were probably used for the purposes of demonstration.

Procerodes dohrni, a family of flatworms.

This slide contains information about the animal, the place of origin, the method of conservation and acquisition. Sample of marine Polychaete worm, found at the Adria coast.

Almost a historical portrait of Taenia crassicollis

Different types of series on individual slides.

The collection is structured thematically, so that each drawer contains slides of diverse origins and formats.

The Natural History Museum also houses other objects relevant to the history of microscopic slides, f.e. machines to fold aluminium slides.