82 The Microscope. 



a Government note, he has but to place it under his microscope and 

 his doubt is made a certainty. His testimony, therefore, in behalf 

 of the Government against the coiinterfeiting engraver fixes his des- 

 tiny at once. The relations which the microscope sustains to medical 

 jurisprudence are none the less important, indeed, they are still more 

 valuable because there they bear upon human life instead of human 

 liberty merely. The criminal whose garments are stained Avith 

 human blood can no longer relieve himself of a suspicion by saying 

 they were discolored by the blood of a slaughtered sheep or calf 

 The microscope looks down upon them, searches out the corpuscles 

 and renders its verdict at once as to whether the prisoner wears the 

 badge of murder or whether he should go free. Also in all the 

 variety of criminal cases in which poison is suspected and where 

 felonious miscarriage is charged, the microscope is now a swift and 

 essential witness in ascertaining and settling the exact facts — indeed, 

 it has become as indispensable to the legal profession as to the 

 medical, as might be yet more conclusively here demonstrated had 

 we space in which to expand this article. We leave the subject with 

 the remark, that in the whole realm of science there is no instrument 

 yet discovered that, in practical usefulness, can compare with the 

 microscope, and thei'efore it is we are inspired to promote and 

 expand its sphere of science in the cultured and civilized world. 



Prof. Stowell's latest work, a review of which will be found 

 in another column, is undoubtedly the finest monograph on the 

 histology of the teeth in the English language. Every microscopist 

 will find it an important addition to the library. It may be obtained 

 of the publishei's of The Microscope. 



We are glad to note that microscopy in all departments is 

 flourishing in the far west. Our monthly reports from San Fran- 

 cisco show an energy, manifested by the society in that city, which 

 might put to blush more than one of the eastern fraternities. I'he 

 society in Kansas City, Mo., although organized but a few months 

 ago, is in a most prosperous condition, and doing excellent work. 

 The Denver Microscopical Society's programme for this season em- 

 braces some six interesting and valuable papers, besides the exhibits 

 of specimens and apparatu.s. From San Antonio, Texas, we hear of 

 valuable work being done in the line of medical microscopy. W^e 

 hope that the reports of these societies, published in The Micro- 

 scope from month to month, may serve as a stimulus to others, and 

 that in both eastern and western states the present year may record 

 great advancement in the development of methods, as well as in 

 actual discoveries. 



