67 



Note on Some Portable Microscopes. 



After considering the paragraph in the last Annual Report 

 referring to the comparative paucity of exhibits at the '' Gossip " 

 meetings in recent years (see p. 105), it has seemed advisable to 

 give a short description, accompanied by figures when available, 

 of such instruments as have been expressly designed with a view 

 of convenient and easy carriage ; provided at the same time with 

 thoroughly reliable focussing adjustments, and capable of taking 

 a condenser or such other apparatus as might be requii^ed for the 

 proper exhibition of the majority of objects. 



Although perhaps unnecessary to those in constant touch 

 with the products of the chief optical fiims, the present note 

 may be useful to others not so situated, and may also stimulate 

 further efforts in this direction amongst those chiefly interested 

 whether makers or users. 



On inquiry, which, however, is by no means presented as 

 exhaustive, it is rather remarkable to find how comparatively 

 few are the instruments regularly made and marketed for the 

 purpose of portability ; excluding, of course, as outside the view 

 of this note, the various pocket or class microscopes intended to 

 be passed from hand to hand — in other words, microscopes without 

 firm stands= 



Further, the chief existing forms have rarely in the first 

 instance been provided for the use of the amateur microscopist. 

 They were mostly designed for Army medical ofiicers, and others 

 concerned with the bacteriological investigation of tropical diseases, 

 blood parasites and so forth, to whom lightness and small size 

 of the necessary apparatus is of primary importance. If, how- 

 ever, they are suited to our requirements as well, their original 

 purpose is of little concern. 



It must be clearly understood that in drawing up the followin<^ 

 brief descriptions we are entirely uninfluenced by any bias what- 

 soever as to the respective merits of the instruments themselves, 

 and that we have not made any invidious selection amongst the 

 firms producing them. We have taken simply what we could 

 find, with the intention already set forth ; and if any have been 



