298 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
mere amateurs with crotchets, but gentlemen professionally engaged 
in scientific histological work : men like Beale, Burdon Saunderson, 
Carpenter, Braxton Hicks, Klein, and others of the many compe- 
tent teachers of histology in our medical schools and colleges. I 
apologize for using the names of these gentlemen without permission ; 
but it will be understood that I do so because they are representative 
men, and belong to a class in whom all concerned would have the most 
complete confidence. 
Further than this, in the interest of all parties, competitors, judges, 
and the scientific public, it would be well to observe the precautions 
adopted in judging prize essays. Thus the competing objectives 
should be sent in with a motto, accompanied by a sealed letter con- 
taining the maker’s name and the same motto, but not to be opened 
until after the award. It would be an easy matter to make it a con- 
dition of competition, that all lenses sent in should be mounted in 
brasswork of a given pattern. Makers could adhere to such pattern 
afterwards or not, as they pleased. 
F.R.M.S. hints that such a medal, if given at all, should be offered 
more frequently than once in three years. I have no objection to its 
being made an annual prize; but that is matter of detail, and does not 
touch the principle. It should be left for the consideration of the 
Society presenting it. 
These are a few of the observations which occur to me as a fitting 
reply to the objections of F.R.M.S., and I hope he will not only 
think them a propos, but also that they fairly meet what he has said 
against the proposition. 
With regard to Mr. C. Stodder’s remarks, although I can make no 
abatement whatever from the weight of the authorities given in my 
former letter, I freely acknowledge that under the actual circumstances 
I have perhaps stated too broadly the view that objectives best calcu- 
lated for the display of diatoms are not equally suited for histological 
work. On the other hand, it will be sufficient to remind him that 
what he claims to have settled, as I understand him with his own 
glasses, is exactly the point in dispute ; and that no mere claim, how- 
ever confidently made, can of itself settle anything. Epithets like 
that he has chosen to characterize my views, he will hardly expect 
to be complimented upon ; they are inapplicable, and greatly to be 
deprecated as destructive of the mutual confidence and esteem which 
should exist amongst scientific men. 
To return. Whether Mr. Stodder and those who still think with 
him, or those of the opposite school, are right, is of no consequence at 
all to the matter in hand. The gold medal should not be offered for 
objectives constructed upon any particular principles, but for such 
as are capable of doing the best histological work, according to a 
standard fixed by the Society. The aperture, and all other circum- 
stances affecting the optical question, should be left entirely to the 
competing opticians. Those of them who believe that the highest 
angles are best under all circumstances, will no doubt send their most 
approved diatom lenses; while those who think that there is a material 
difference between the work which is confined to the examination of 
