HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OSS I P. 



33 



A PLEA FOR THE MICROSCOPE AS 

 A TOY. 



IT 7E are °f ten reminded that the microscope is 

 V V no longer a toy, but a scientific instrument, 

 and those who use it for recreation only are not un- 

 frequently hard hit, as mere wasters of time and 

 desecrators of a noble power. 



Now, while fully appreciating the scientific use of 

 the microscope, I would suggest a slight alteration in 

 the above dictum, and say, it is not only a toy, but 

 a scientific instrument. I would plead for it as a 

 source of amusement. The President of the Quekett 

 Club, in his recent address, reminds us of a remark 

 in the first page of the "Microscopic Journal" of 

 1841, where it is said of microscopic research in those 

 days, that it "is for the most part an amusement 

 rather than a profession" — it is an "intellectual 

 pastime, which is sure to terminate in beneficial 

 results. General knowledge may be acquired by 

 observation," and this " by industry and perseverance 

 imperceptibly produces recondite science." This is 

 just the view I would take of microscopical employ- 

 ment. It is first an " intellectual pastime." Wearied 

 in body and mind the man of business or of litera- 

 ture seeks rest. Some find it in mere lounging in an 

 easy-chair, and joining in the family chit-chat ; others 

 in listening to the music which a wife or daughter 

 elicits from the pianoforte. There is no objection to 

 this ; but if the taste leads to the observation of 

 nature in the sky, the earth, the sea, then a special 

 interest is felt in whatever tends to reveal the secrets 

 of that existence by which we are surrounded. Some 

 turn to the telescope, others to the microscope, not 

 as a means of scientific research, but as "an intel- 

 lectual pastime." Investigation requires powerful 

 effort, both of mind and body. Few have this to 

 expend now-a-days on what does not bring grist to 

 the mill. The mind wants recreation, as the appetite 

 longs sometimes for change of diet and enjoys the 

 dainty bit. The holiday keeper rushes into the 

 country, not to study, but to enjoy, its beauties. He 

 visits the picture gallery, not to become an artist, but 

 to satisfy a taste. He goes to the British Museum or 

 the Zoological Gardens not to become a naturalist, 

 but to enlarge his ideas. He cultivates a variety of 

 sweet and pretty flowers in his garden, not with the 

 remotest intention of becoming acquainted with their 

 orders and relationships, but purely for the enjoy- 

 ment to be derived from them. And why may a 

 man not use his microscope in the same way ? What 

 wonders — what beauties — does it reveal ! Well has 

 it been said that the microscope is a door into another 

 world. It is so, and the man who uses it merely as 

 such is amply rewarded. The door is opened and he 

 is almost bewildered with the variety and beauty of 

 what he sees. His mind is enlarged, his views are 

 corrected ; his taste is charmed, his wonder excited. 

 The whole man is elevated, refreshed, and invigo- 



rated. It is not only a pastime, but "an intellectual 

 pastime." 



But, further, we are told it is "sure to terminate 

 in beneficial results." This " intellectual pastime," 

 then, does not as a rule stop there. It is not a lovely 

 vision which vanishes away, but is an avenue to a 

 brighter and broader view. It induces the habit of 

 observation, and surrounds even the least things with 

 a halo of interest which they could never otherwise 

 have possessed. The smut on the ear of corn — the 

 disease of the leaf of the potato — the mould on the 

 cheese — all are now full of interest. The most un- 

 promising object often exhibits a most unexpected 

 character, or reveals a long-looked-for secret. And 

 thus the mind is not only refreshed but stored with a 

 new fact, which in its turn proves to be only the 

 cradle of another : so, step by step, the " beneficial 

 results " are evolved. And great as these are in an 

 educational and abstract point of view, they are by 

 no means wanting in a practical, as the application 

 of the microscope to physiological, histological, and 

 commercial subjects, abundantly proves. 



Let us begin, then, by play. If it ends here it is 

 at least as innocent and pleasing as any other — let 

 some of us begin by using our microscopes as toys, 

 let others use them so sometimes, for the amusement 

 of the uninitiated— it is "an intellectual pastime 

 which is sure to terminate in beneficial results." 



This toy, moreover, is not an expensive one, either 

 to begin with, or to keep going. If you buy a gun 

 there is the annual licence, and the constant supply 

 of ammunition. If you buy a horse, the first outlay 

 is nothing compared with the keeping of it. But 

 when once you are provided with a microscope, there 

 is no tax to pay, no food required. Let this be a 

 plea for getting a fairly good instrument at first, 

 capable of being added to as required. Even the 

 magic-lantern soon tires unless new slides, which aye 

 very costly, be continually added. Having, then, 

 this toy, we learn to find objects which cost us 

 nothing, but, on the contrary, contribute largely to 

 our pleasure and profit. It has, too, a great 

 advantage over the telescope. You have not to wait 

 for cloudless nights, nor to run the risk of colds and 

 neuralgia. Every night is a microscopical night, and 

 the long dark evenings of winter may be not only 

 ■beguiled but improved. — T. R. J., Codicote Vicarage. 



PARASITES ON FISH. 

 By John Davis. 



THE subject of the various parasites found en 

 fish has not hitherto received much popular 

 attention, except in Van Beneden's " Animal Mess- 

 mates." It is hoped, therefore, that the following 

 description of three of such parasites may induce 

 other naturalists to contribute further information on 

 this subject to the pages of Science-Gossip: 



