A HOME-MADE MICROSCOPE. 



97 



Mr. Le Neeve Forster, in the above remarks, doubtless strikes at 

 the root of an evil that is fast becoming a nuisance, to the utter detri- 

 ment of useful and sound work ; the test-slide and diatom fever has 

 spx-ead like an infection among all classes of microscopists, and has 

 resulted in an extravagant system of expenditure foreign to true sci- 

 entific research. I find that |1,650 is now asked for a first-class in- 

 strument and fittings, and as much as |40 apiece for diatom-slides. 



These eccentricities of leading microscopists appear to have re- 

 ceived protests from various quarters, for the President of the Royal 

 Microscopical Society, in his last address, states : 



" It Las been cast at us, as Fellows of this Society, that we do nothing but 

 improve our tools, or measure the markings on the frustules of a diatom." ' 



One reason for the confessed poverty of microscopical results may 

 be ascribed to the want of sufficient workers to cover so vast a field 

 of research. It is to be regretted that many professional men, whose 

 occupation would seem to demand the daily use of the microscope, 

 deny themselves the facilities it offers. I apprehend that the explana- 

 tion of this apparent neglect will be found in the high price asked for 

 first-class instruments, and the absence in the market of a good stand- 

 ard instrument that combines the advantages of being of the best 

 workmanship, full-sized, portable in form, and moderate in price. 



Messrs. Baker, Crouch, Collins, and especially Swift, all of London, 

 produce such microscopes, but, as their importation doubles the cost, 

 their chief merit of cheapness is lost. In our own country, opticians 

 have proved that they can produce work that cannot be surpassed, 

 provided that their patrons entertain the same views as Sir Charles 

 Surface respecting the expense; but those of more moderate means, 

 who wish to purchase a good working microscope at a moderate cost, 

 are offered a pretentious display of foreign and domestic forms, total- 

 ly unfit for professional or scientific use. If makers of microscopes 

 would take a lesson from the best telescope-makers, and, instead of 

 multiplying the number of their models, combine their energy in the 

 production of a good standard instrument, filling the conditions that 

 I have already stated, they would promote the cause of science and 

 concentrate their business. 



Fig. 2. Instrument folded for Carriage. 



Those who have read the biographical and obituary sketches of 

 eminent microscopists have probably noticed that it was a favorite 

 pursuit with many of them to make their own instruments. In the 



1 Fcbiuary 3, 1875. 



VOL. Till. 7 



