378 The Microscope. 



Article II: "The object shall be the encouragement of microscopical 

 research in all branches of science, by meetings, discussions, demon- 

 strations and the reading and publishing of papers." This, in the 

 revised Constitution as adopted at Buffalo, appears trimmed down 

 to " The object shall be the encouragement of microscopical research." 

 In the original proposition the conditions expressed the most good to 

 the greatest number; as it now stands it plainly indicates the most 

 good to the chosen few. In framing the original article, the com- 

 mittee evidently realized the fact that the Society of which they then 

 formed the nucleus, would not and could not be entirely composed 

 of men and women whose tastes and training were thoroughly scien- 

 tific. They therefore wisely incorporated into the article the word 

 " demonstrations,''^ knowing that to these members practical instruc- 

 tion would be of far greater interest than the most learned papers 

 which the future might produce. It was not, however, until the 

 sixth meeting of the A. S. M. that the importance of this department 

 began to take definite shape in the minds of those most interested in 

 the Society's welfare. We learn from the transactions of that year 

 — 1883, Chicago meeting— that Mr. E. H. Griffith had charge of the 

 practical work, which consisted of twelve experts occupied with vari- 

 ous methods in microscopy. 



The favor with which this " new feature " was received is well 

 seen by reference to the proceedings of the Rochester meeting (1884). 

 Here, not twelve, but twenty-eight members demonstrated to their 

 associates the methods which, in their hands, had given the best sat- 

 isfaction. " To the labors of Mr. E. H. Griffith, under whose direc- 

 tion the session was conducted, very much of the success of this 

 feature of the meetings may be attributed," say the transactions. 

 At the Cleveland meeting, (1885), the session was under the able 

 direction of Mr. C. M. Vorce, and the number of workers' tables had 

 increased to thirty-eight, besides which, a large collection of photo- 

 micrographs, and several interesting and special instruments were 

 exhibited. At the Chatauqua meeting, (1886), there were forty 

 workers in the session, but owing to several reasons the affair was 

 not wholly a success. At Pittsburgh, the number of workers dwin- 

 dled to about eighteen, and although many valuable methods were 

 demonstrated, the usefulness of the session was marred by the lim- 

 ited time given to the demonstrators. At the last meeting the work- 

 ing session existed only in name. * 



Now what has been the effect of this decadence of practical 



* An impromptu working session was held at the Columbus meeting, but it was of so 

 unimporiaut a nature that it hardly deserves the name. 



