122 The Microscope. 



zoology and botany and has made heavy inroads on the old 

 accepted theories of medicine. 



But it is the purpose of this paper to show some of the 

 relations of the microscope to the practice of medicine. Let us 

 listen to some testimony on this point : 



Prof. Thos. F. Rochester, of Buffalo, in a public address 

 said: U A physician must either be himself a microscopist, or 

 must have almost daily recourse to one, for the necessary infor- 

 mation to practice his profession correctly and conscientiously, 

 not to say successfully." 



Dr. J. G. Richardson, of Philadelphia, in his hand-book of 

 microscopy says: "At least one-half of the cases of disease 

 which physicians are called to treat would have some light 

 thrown upon their nature by a careful examination of the 

 blood, urine, sputum, etc., with the microscope." (A rather 

 high estimate). Dr. Robt. Todd, Dr. Lionel Beale, with many 

 other authors give universal testimony to the diagnostic value 

 of the microscope; while scores of active practitioners give 

 their united approval of its use from daily experiences. 



The following are some of the uses of the microscope in 

 practical medicine : First, 



IN THE DIAGNOSIS OP DISEASE. 



Under this head I would refer to the results obtained from 

 the following examinations : A, of 'the urine. It will require no 

 extended remarks in this connection to show the aid that comes 

 to the diagnostician from a knowledge of the presence, in undue 

 proportions, of the normal ingredients of the urine, or of the 

 presence of abnormal products. There are some ailments and 

 some serious diseases that can be diagnosed with certainty only 

 by possessing such knowledge, while in many other instances it 

 furnishes a prompt and easy method of verifying a doubtful 

 diagnosis which only time (or a post mortem) could make clear. 



B, of the shin. Dr. Yemans says, " as accuracy of diagnosis 

 is the key to success so here we must rely upon the microscope 

 for necessary precision." Oases of favus were formerly treated 

 many times for months and years with no relief, while the 

 microscope was ready to indicate the treatment and diminish 



