150 THE MICE08C0PE. K^ct. 



immaterial is t\w. development of human thought pos- 

 sible. The life force of the bacillus is doubtless as in- 

 tricate as the life force of the human subject and may 

 be similar if not identical with it; for what is the body 

 in which the ego resides more than an aggregation of 

 amebse specialized, f^nd each ameba possibly having an 

 independent life and having reproductive propexties of 

 its own. It is with the minute mass. of ma^tter, f,njpt the 

 molecule, that the microscopist has to deal ; he sees its 

 manner and method of growth and not the forces which 

 ])i:oduce the molecular arrangement of the ultimate par- 

 , tides. 



It is , not (enough that the physician be able to observe 

 and differentiate the various forms of the micrococcus, 

 spirillum or bacillus : he must know as well the habitat, 

 manner and method of growth of each variety. Without 

 tills knowledge the revelations of the microscope are no 

 more intelligible than some Egypian inscriptions. There 

 is. a philosophy of microscopy which is equally as valu- 

 able, as the facts on which it is based, but a philosophy 

 that can only be developed by accurate observation and 

 classification of microscopical data. This work, it is evi- 

 dent,, must be performed by the skilled microscopist and 

 not by the novice, in Avhicli class the busy practitioner is 

 r|sually . found. In microscopical analysis no element 

 relative- to accuracy can with safety be omitted. It ijiat- 

 ters not though the microscopical accessories be thor- 

 oughly cleansed and sterilized, for the results would be 

 equally untrustworthy if the material to be examined be 

 placed i;i a/neceptacle, found perhaps in some old garret 

 and half cleansed. Conclusions reached under such con- 

 ditions must be erroneous. Do you ask who ever allows 

 such procedures? Go to the home of the amateur or 

 pseudo-microscopist, observe his methods and technique 

 a-nd you- will have the answer. It is surprising how 

 much we see, how hiuch We assume and how little we 



