The Microscope. 19 



is one of the most innocuous of its class, as one of its executive 

 officers, we lono; ago saw that the trouble with our societies is the 

 very small number of members who know even the first rudiments of 

 microscopical science. The opportunity of studying microscopy under 

 a competent teacher comes to but few individuals. But a small min- 

 ority of the students in our universities take up the study, and even 

 our medical colleges ofiFer but feeble facilities for its pursuit. The 

 difficulty is then, in short, that we lack teachers and opportunities 

 to learn, and consequently, trained students. 



The majority of the members of local societies are those who 

 without any special training have accidentally or otherwise become 

 interested in microscopy, bought a microscope, and have joined a 

 society to learn how to use it. After attending a few meetings, and 

 listening to papers on svich subjects as "The Relative Value of Objec- 

 tives of High and Low Angular Aperture,"' " The Morphology of a New 

 Chaetonotus," etc., by the learned ones of the society, they become dis- 

 heartened at the array of unintelligible terms, and give it up. A few 

 purchase elementary works, and by self -teaching obtain the rudiments 

 of the science; but such study requires an enthusiastic student, 

 and he too often has to unlearn much of his hard-earned knowledge. 

 As a self-taught student we well know the rocky road he has to travel. 

 The Microscope has recognized this great want of teachers, and has 

 devoted considerable of its space to the teaching of elementary 

 microscopy, and has opened the door of its laboratory for the use of 

 all those who may desire its facilities. 



But something must be done by the societies themselves; they 

 must be resolved to a large extent into teaching bodies, with the few 

 skilled members acting as the tutors of the many neophytes. 



We are pleased to see that at least one society — the Illinois 

 Stale Microscopical Society — has formulated such a plan, with the 

 details of execution laid out. We extract from their circular, issued 

 to members, and we earnestly commend it to the consideration of the 

 officers of all societies: 



" The purpose in view comes from a belief that in our large city 

 there are many young men who would be interested in microscopical 

 study, if an opportunity were affoided them of becoming acquainted 

 with its methods. 



"At present there are here no special schools or teachers of 

 this science. Our Society has decided to meet this want to some 

 extent, and in several ways. 



