86 THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 
fascinating in its pursuit, that is more suitable to every one, 
or that has a more universal application in every departngat 
of nature, than'that of microscopy. When I speak of its gefieral 
suitability to every one I most certainly mean to include the ladies. 
If there be a scientific pursuit for which they are in every .way 
fitted, and in many ways eminently so, it is this. And at the pre- 
sent time, when they are urging their just claims for a higher 
education, when they are more than ever désirous of pursuing the 
more active callings of life, microscopy opens out to them at once 
as a field for scientific investigation, quite unaffected by any dis- 
tinction of sex, and with scope for every variety of intellect; or, if 
they will, as a means of earning a living as professional mounters, 
or as artists capable of sketching microscopical specimens. But it 
it is not to ladies only that I have to appeal for work. There is 
another section of our society to which, with good reason, we look 
for an abounding freshness and energy, and that is our younger 
members. I do not wish to inquire too closely why they became 
members, for some of the reasons would not, I fear, altogether 
coincide with my idea of their responsibilities to the society which 
they have joined. At least every one pays a subscription to help 
to form an audience, and that is at any rate useful to us if not alto- 
gether creditable to the individual. But what I wish to impress 
upon them is that they constitute our future, and, therefore, as 
every year brings with it its new members we look amongst them 
for steady workers, who may be relied upon to maintain the effi- - 
ciency of the society. It needs no marvellous intellect, no special 
brilliancy, to succeed in a scientific study. Work at it ardently 
and perseveringly, and success will follow. And in nothing more 
certainly than in microscopy. In a society so admirably con- 
stituted as this is—with so energetic a committee ; with a treasurer 
who always presents us with a balance on the right side; with’ a 
secretary whose self-sacrificing devotion has placed the society 
under everlasting obligation to him ; with every convenience for 
lectures, discussions, and conversaziones ; and with what is a 
frequent desideratum, a large and enthusiastic audience; let me 
hope that the time you have honoured me with the leadership 
will be one of the greatest success in our history, and that I am 
now inaugurating a session that shall be remembered, not for the 
brilliancy of its lectures or the beauty and variety of its conversa- 
ziones—for in such matters recent sessions can hardly be surpass- 
ed—but for the number and enthusiasm of those who devote 
themselves thoroughly and perseveringly to the scientific use of 
the microscope.—The remainder of the address was upon the his- 
tological character of the nervous system, the subject being illus- 
trated by photographs from exquisitely-cut microscopic sections, 
and illuminated by the oxy-hydrogen lantern. 
