and Laboratory Methods. -547 



Microscopical Work in Turkey/ 



The following is not intended to be a concise report on the condition of 

 microscopy in the Turkish Empire, but only a general sketch of what the most 

 important lines are along which work is done. 



There being only one states-university in a country with about 25,000,000 

 inhabitants, and only seven or eight colleges established by foreign missionary 

 societies, with perhaps about a dozen native institutions of the rank of a college, 

 or rather of a gymnasium (lyce'e), there is certainly not too much of an oppor- 

 tunity for microscopic work being carried on. To undertake preparing a census 

 of microscopists would be groping in the dark, as there is no basis for any cal- 

 culation whatever. We have to be satisfied with a very approximate estimate of 

 the number of microscopes. 



If we consider in the first place the different centers of education, I doubt 

 if an average of five microscopes is not too high a number for the 20 to 25 higher 

 institutions, even including the three or four medical departments. I know 

 several institutions which have only one or two. and know only one which has 

 about forty microscopes. 



The prospect becomes brighter when you take into consideration the edu- 

 cated professionists, as physicians and druggists, especially such as have had 

 their training wholly or in part in Europe or in America. Among this class of 

 people there may be probably a total of 1000 or more instruments in use. A 

 great number of doubtful diagnoses are settled by the penetrating vision of the 

 microscope, many a criminal case is brought before its court of impartial judg- 

 ment, and disputes between a custom-house officer, demanding exorbitant duty 

 on some article, and the niggardly owner who wants to escape paying by invent- 

 ing some fictitious name for it, are referred to the just and true decision of the 

 microscope. ♦ 



How many of the microscopes falling under the categories mentioned may 

 be in active use, and how many may be spending a life of laziness on dusty 

 shelves or in dark cases, it is hard to tell, but that the discoveries made by the 

 aid of either of them would not fill volumes, is certain. 



With my own classes in biology in our college I have always found a great 

 desire for looking at microscopic objects, but as during the thirteen years of 

 teaching I have met only a few students who desired to make personal investiga- 

 tions, it seems that it is only curiosity which guides them. This being once 

 satisfied the volunteers gradually disappear, until at the close of the term you 

 find yourself left with one or two attendants, if not quite alone. Yet it would 

 not be fair to throw all the blame on the students, as the full program of lessons, 

 together with the necessity of acquiring four different languages (Turkish, Eng- 

 lish, French and Vernacular) leaves them very little leisure to follow a special 

 line, requiring continuous effort and attention. 



Notwithstanding all less favorable circumstances already mentioned, there is 



' I wish to express my very special gratitude to Mr. H. K. Pepeian of Aniassia, lor furnish- 

 ing notes on the use of the microscope in silk business. .1- T- m. 



