348 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



By Edward Milles Nelson, F.R.M.S. 



(Delivered February 16th, 1894.) 



Gentlemen, — I thank you for the renewed confidence yoii have 

 shown in me by again electing me your President. 



You have just heard the report of your Committee on the 

 work of the past year. In quantity it is not behind that of 

 previous years, while in quality it undoubtedly shows an 

 advance. If, for instance, those who possess the complete 

 Journal of this Club will compare the plates in the later 

 numbers with those of former years they cannot but notice a 

 marked improvement in the drawing of microscopical objects, 

 and the next number, which will shortly be in your hands, will 

 confirm this more strongly. 



Not only is there finer detail depicted than formerly, partly 

 owing, no doubt, to the improvement in the optical and mechani- 

 cal portions of the instrument, but the drawings are more 

 finished, and more time is evidently expended over them. What 

 applies to the drawings applies also with even more force to 

 microscope work in general and to the papers. 



Every year original work becomes harder, and microscopical 

 discoveries more difficult. There was a time when an after- 

 noon with a li inch objective would, perhaps, reward the 

 observer with four new species, but that day is past, and dis- 

 coveries now lie among the higher powers. Dr. Carpenter's 

 low-angled \ for penetration, which he worked after the manner 

 of an inch, w^as also played out, and the professorial staff of 

 the medical schools would now scorn to. use an instrument which 

 a few years back they declared to be " good enough for histo- 

 logical purposes which did not need a.ny improvement." 



Anyone who remembers the kind of instruments exhibited 

 here in former years will notice the change that has taken 

 ]dace, and I mnke bold to stnte that there is no body of micro- 



