LANKESTER, ON A MUSEUM MICROSCOPE. 235 
cayed. These raphides were of the stellate kind, and occurred 
in the intercellular passages of the stem of the Myriophyllum. 
It has been alleged,* that raphides are always contained in 
cells, in contradiction to the opinion of Raspail, who stated 
that they were also met with in the intercellular passages, a 
statement which I am enabled to confirm from my observa- 
tions on the above Myriophyllum. An account of these 
raphides, with a figure, will be found in the ‘ Phytologist’ 
for April, 1859. 
BLackHEATH Park, 8.E.; 
June, 1859. 
Description of a Museum Microscope. 
By Epwin Lanxester, M.D., F.R.S. 
In the annual address to the Microscopical Society I 
drew attention to the importance of familiarising the public 
with the use of the microscope, in order that they may 
become acquainted with its applications. One great barrier 
to its use in museums has been that, as usually constructed, 
it has been easily displaced, put out of order when adjusted, 
or its parts could be removed fraudulently. These evils 
could only be remedied by the constant presence of a skilful 
and watchful attendant. In order to obviate these difficulties 
I have had a microscope constructed, of which the accom- 
panying figures will give a good idea. The first object 
to be secured was that of the fixity of the whole instrument. 
This has been effected by attaching the stand, e (figs. 1 and 2), 
to a block of wood. Fig. 1 is intended for viewing trans- 
parent objects, and the stand is fixed at an angle of about 
59°. Fig. 2 is intended for viewing opaque objects, and the 
stand is made upright. The block, h, to which the stand is 
affixed, may be screwed to a table, shelf, or other fixed 
object, where there is a good light, by a couple of screws 
from the bottom. This arrangement secures the instrument 
from being knocked over. The eye-piece, a, is placed in the 
tube in the ordinary way, but by means of a slit at the back 
of the tube, which admits of the movement up and down of 
a screw attached to the eye-piece, it is fixed at any point 
which may be thought desirable. This screw, 6, is only 
* See Quekett’s ‘ Lectures on Histology,’ p. 43. 
VOL. VII. v 
