THE 



MONTHLY MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



MARCH 1, 1872. 



I.— THE PEESIDENT'S ADDEESS. 



(DeHvered before the EoYAL Miceoscopical Society, Feb. 7, 1872.) 



Gentlemen, 



I come before you this evening to deliver the Annual Presi- 

 dential Address with a mixed feeling. I have a timidity in attempt- 

 ing to represent microscopic lore in what may be termed the new 

 phase, namely, the use of high magnifying powers and great com- 

 plexity of apparatus. On the other hand, I feel confident in stating 

 that in the use of what one may call antiquated microscojDic powers, 

 there is far more yet to be done than many of the Society imagine. 

 High magnifying power is the rage ; yet few are the researches but 

 have been foreshadowed by workers in the early part of the present 

 century. I lay much stress upon this point ; and were I to refer to 

 an example of one of the highest names connected with the micro- 

 scope in this country, I should mention one of your early Presidents, 

 John Quekett. I take this man's work as an example of what 

 can be done with low microscopic powers ; although it is true that 

 in substantiating detail, or in giving others clearness of conception, 

 as to the intimate structure of tissues, he often illustrated his 

 sketches of texture by highly - magnified objects. The greater 

 number of his discoveries, of which not only the Microscopical 

 Society, but England, may be proud, were made with low powers. 

 This is known not only to myself personally, but to all who knew 

 him intimately. 



The microscope, ordinarily, may be said to be applied to the 

 elucidation of fine organisms and minute tissues. It is plain, 

 however, to everyone, that all organs, built up of textm-al parts, 

 are more easily comprehended by viewing them in their broad 

 phases, than by incessant reference to their component parts. The 

 ordinary embryo, say, of fowl, frog, or fish, — from the size of a 

 mustard-seed to a pea, — can be viewed sufficiently with a hand-lens 

 or a very low power, to elucidate the organic relations of the changing 

 protoplasmic mass. As growth proceeds, it is easy to perceive that 

 each organ evolved necessarily enlarges ; and the magnifying power 

 employed might be said to be in inverse ratio to the size of the 



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