140 Transactions of the Society. 



" standard " simple microscope should be supplied which can be 

 gradually converted into a " research " model by various additions. 

 Surely this is analogous to trying to convert a " Ford " into a 

 " Eolls-Eoyce " by the addition of new radiator, self-starter, etc. 

 If the highest type of microscope is to be satisfactory it must be 

 designed as an instrument complete from the beginning. As 

 England has held the palm for the production of the finest types of 

 microscope from the very earliest days, one hopes that this class 

 of instrument will not be overlooked in the anxiety to fill the 

 world's demand for what one may call the " Ford " type of micro- 

 scope. 



By far the largest number of microscopes produced are used in 

 the medical schools and laboratories. The work there is mainly 

 of the nature of " spotting " known structures or organisms, and 

 for such purposes neither very perfect appliances or manipulation 

 are essential. Consequently interest in the development of the 

 microscope has fallen very low in this quarter. The result is 

 extreme conservatism in the design of instruments for this work. 

 Where there is active interest there one finds new departures in 

 design, as is well shown in the development of the microscope for 

 metallurgy in recent years. 



At the recent Symposium many speakers appeared to consider 

 that the question of design should be left in the hands of the 

 instrument makers. Surely the high state of development reached 

 in England in the early days was mainly diie to the stimulus of 

 suggestions by the working microscopist, and not least by the 

 Fellows of this Society. At this time, when makers are planning 

 models which will be the basis of their productions for many years 

 to come, every possible detail should be most carefully considered. 

 This communication is written with a view to provoking such 

 discussion. 



