The Microscope. 115 



into use. This pioneer microscopist observed in the cleanings 

 of his teeth several kinds of organisms which are now known 

 to belong to the Schizophytes, and described them so accurate- 

 ly that they are easily recognized. One he said " resembled a 

 rod" (bacillus); others had the habit of "bending in curves" 

 (bacteria); others of "creeping in a snake like fashion;" and 

 another kind, " extremely minute, resembled a swarm of flies 

 rolled up in a ball " (micrococcus). When it is remembered 

 that this group of plants is the most minute of all organisms, it 

 is a matter of astonishment that this old naturalist should have 

 been able to see so much with such imperfect instruments as 

 were at his command. His microscopes were beads of glass of 

 various sizes which he made himself. It affords another illus- 

 tration of the fact that genius consists in the power of doing 

 much with little. 



Dr. Frank L. James, of St. Louis, Mo., has charge of the 

 department of " Microscopy " in The National Druggist, pub- 

 lished in that city. He has already given over twenty chapters 

 on "•' Elementary Technology," and he has proved himself a 

 terse and vigorous writer. The articles are very valuable indeed 

 and we hope the doctor will put them in permanent book form. 



Ask any microscopist in the country " who prepares the 

 best slides for market," and you will get but one reply, "Arthur 

 0. Cole, of London." Why are they the best ? Because the 

 objects, themselves, are always first-class; because they are 

 models of beauty and neatness; and because they remain 

 unchanged for years. 



Dr. F. L. James, of St. Louis, sends another dynamite 

 charge into an editorial camp, under the title of " A Savant 

 and a Snob." Our readers can find it in The National Drug- 

 gist. Dr. James is making the department of "Microscopy" 

 the most interesting part of that journal. 



If anyone should ask Mr. Cole, of London, why it is that 

 he finishes all his mounts with white zinc, he would doubtless 

 reply " because it is the best." 



