The Microscope. 31 



knowledge of instruments and makers, we think the writer has some- 

 what exaggerated the facts in the case. It is true that there are 

 many cheap instruments — toys, which are made to attract the eye 

 rather than to serve a useful purpose — but these microscopes are, as 

 we have said, nothing but toys, and therefore do not come within the 

 scope of the discussion. The best American microscopes are not, in 

 our opinion, more laquered or ornamented than those of English or 

 German make. The matter of mechanical contrivances is secondary. 

 We hold that no incompetent person should select a microscope on his 

 or her own responsibility, but should before piirchasing submit the 

 instrument to some one who has a knowledge of such things. If this 

 is done, the intending buyer need invest in none of these objection- 

 able ( ?) accessories and mechanical contrivances. The writer objects 

 to the tilting stands — but the cost of such a joint is very little — and 

 in many investigations, etc., — other than biological and histological — 

 to place the tube at an angle to the base is often very desirable. 



We also see no reason why the writer should object to the rack 

 and pinion coarse adjustment, since he acknowledges that the shoving 

 of the tube up and down by the fingers is more wearing to the 

 instrument — and it certainly is to the patience — than the former 

 method. Again the price is called in to substantiate this complaint, 

 but from the writer's own words he proves that the rack and pinion 

 adjustment is economical rather than the reverse. 



The stand of any microscope fitted with an Abbe condenser — 

 and we believe that all of the leading foreign makers have adapted 

 their best instruments to the use of this valuable accessory — must of 

 necessity be too high for the easy manipulation of the slide while the 

 hand rests on the table. With the low, old-fashioned Hartnach and 

 other stands this was possible — but such instruments as these are now 

 out of date and are rarely used except by those who cannot acquire a 

 better and more convenient stand. 



We have examined a very large line of American and foreign 

 objectives, and feel forced to say that those of our best makes stand 

 second to none, unless we except the lenses of one foreign make, and 

 even these are thought to be equaled by American manufacture by 

 many competent observers. 



In The Microscope laboratory we have American, English, Ger 

 man and Austrian microscopes, with objectives manufactured in each 

 of these countries. These instruments are in daily use. Each has 

 its defects, each its points of excellence ; they are all good instru- 

 ments, and with any one of them excellent biological work has been 



