O. W. HOLMES AND THE MICROSCOPE. 297 



instrument and the preparation of slides. The slides used from 

 week to week were prepared by Holmes himself, to show the dif- 

 ferent tissues of the body. The only consideration ever given for 

 these charming and instructive lessons were the grateful thanks of 

 his pupils. 



I believe that Oliver Wendell Holmes was the first in America 

 to teach classes of medical students the use of the microscope. 

 If so, to him, and through him to the Harvard Medical School, 

 should be accorded the honour. 



Since writing the above, Oliver Wendell Holmes has passed 

 away. None knew him but to love him. His anatomical and 

 physiological lectures were charming, and always filled the amphi- 

 theatre ; even dry bones in his hands became endowed with life 

 and individuality. 



It was my rare good fortune to be occasionally invited to his 

 house, where I spent some delightful hours in his study and work- 

 room. Once I was present when a large package of books arrived 

 from New York for his inspection, which I helped him unpack. 

 When at the bottom of the case we came upon a large folio copy, 

 original edition, of Vesalius, his eyes fairly sparkled with joy. 

 Hastily he turned over the leaves, and remarked that, as New 

 Yorkers have been fools enough to allow such a prize to leave their 

 city, it would never return from Boston. 



All the world knew him as professor, author, and poet, but 

 few knew his fondness for music, and that he possessed a rare 

 mechanical genius of which he was very proud. He once told me 

 he thought more of the 'gimcracks' he made with his hands 

 than of anything he had ever written ; and at that time he was 

 delighting two hemispheres with The Autocrat of the Breakfast 

 Table. 



In his last autograph letter to me he says : 'My most success- 

 ful contrivance was a stereoscope of a very simple pattern, which 

 had a great run, and has remained popular, I think, to the present 

 time.' " 



International Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science. 

 Third Series. Vol. V. 



