WITH THE MICROSCOPE. 191 



cannot be too much condemned. So, also, the practice of some, of 

 describing every object in the field of the microscope without the 

 smallest knowledge of any one of them, has been the cause of much 

 ridicule, and has brought microscopic observation into great dis- 

 repute. Some have thought to gain the credit of being accurate 

 observers, by carefully measuring every object they see in every 

 diameter, and putting down in numbers the results of this useless 

 ceremony. 



Such reports show that the author is thinking more of himself 

 than his subject. He desires to acquire a character for extreme 

 minuteness of observation, instead of striving to advance the real 

 interests of the science which he professes to serve and instead of 

 endeavouring to excite in the mind of the reader a desire for more 

 extended knowledge, and a wish to take part in a similar investiga- 

 tion, he perpetually gives undue prominence to himself. He who 

 feels a real love for his subject, will try all he can to enlist others in the 

 same cause ; he will try to remove all difficulties of investigation, and 

 endeavour to express what he himself has learnt, in language which 

 shall be intelligible to all. A certain mysterious air pervading the 

 description of an observation, an evident desire to coin new words, 

 and exaggerated statements of the importance of the facts observed, 

 are quite misplaced where all should be clear, simple, and intelligible 

 to every one and too often show indifference to the subject on the 

 part of the author, and a want of consideration towards unlearned 

 readers. Nothing, I believe, has been productive of more pain 

 and sorrow to earnest men who have devoted their lives to the prose- 

 cution of different branches of natural science, or has more retarded 

 the real progress of scientific enquiry, than that affectation of pre- 

 cision, and minute verbose and pompous style of description, which 

 has been fashionable among some microscopists, and which pervades 

 the writings of several authorities in this imperfectly developed branch 

 of investigation in the present day. All this is mere pretence, and 

 not real, earnest, useful work distasteful to every scientific man and 

 discouraging to every student. An extreme minuteness in descrip- 

 tion is by no means a proof of accuracy of observation. In this 

 manner science has become encumbered with unnecessary words, and 

 earnest men have been intimidated from prosecuting it. 



Fallacies to be guarded against in Microscopical Investigation. 



Many mistakes have arisen in consequence of sufficient care not 

 having been taken to prevent the introduction of various substances 



