Thk Microscope. 127 



of experience, but that is common with amateurs, and as many 

 of his notes seem to indicate a lack of experience, it may be well 

 to give him the credit of signing his real name. Were it not 

 that many are liable to be misled by reading his instructions 

 from the pages of a widely circulated and popular journal of 

 microscopy, we might read and be silent, but errors should be 

 corrected if possible, and in this article I do not wish to be un- 

 derstood as giving my opinions only, but those of the majority 

 of the many hundreds of microscopists whom I meet in my 

 travels each year. 



" An Amateur " writes that the greatest objection to most of 

 the stands is the absence of space about the stage. He then ad- 

 vocates large stages, and surely they have not so much space 

 about them as the smaller ones. I think it safe to assert that out 

 of every one hundred slides there is not more than one that is- 

 larger than 3x1 inches, and a stage two and one-half inches in- 

 diameter is plenty large enough for such slides, and much more 

 convenient. It will allow the ends of the slide to project so that 

 the index fingers of each hand may control it in a more satisfac- 

 tory manner than in most cases can be done by the use of a 

 mechanical stage costing $30, and in focussing for high powers 

 the nearness of the objective to the cover glass may be deter- 

 mined by tipping the slide a trifle. 



Those who make small stages do so because they believe them 

 to be the best, and were a vote taken to-day of all the expert 

 microscopists in America, I have reason to believe that the ma- 

 jority would be in favor of small stages. There are those engaged 

 in work which may require large ones, but I have found very 

 few, if any. A small stage will certainly be more convenient in 

 connection with the sub stage and its accessories, while a large 

 one with a low stand would be very much in the way. 



"The microscopist's fingers need all the room possible in 

 manipulation." It is much more convenient to work by the 

 side of a table than it is to sit on top of it. " An unsteady in- 

 strument is unpardonable " will secure the endorsement of every 

 worker, but that a great microscope stand requiring the use of 

 two hands to move it about the table, is steadier than a much 

 smaller one equally well made, I do not believe, and I have the 

 same opinion in writing by many eminent microscopists whom 

 the world delights to honor. 



