The Microscope. 163 



not to possess and use this valuable adjunct as he does his ther- 

 mometer, stethoscope, hypodermic syringe or any of those other 

 helps to diagnosis and which no\v-a-days appear to be indispen- 

 .able to his armamentarium. 



For many years the microscope has been looked upon as a 

 scientific gun which it was dangerous to handle unless we were 

 skilled in its use ; or, it was regarded as a mysterious agent 

 wherewith the unscrupulous would delude the ignorant. This 

 occasioned the efforts to decry it which have made its detractors 

 ridiculous. On the other hand, it may be described as a boomer- 

 ang in the hands of the unskillful as an assumption of facts 

 cannot be upheld by invoking a personal equation and every- 

 thing claimed is susceptible of demonstration. Fortunately that 

 <;lass who have decried the instrument and those who have 

 worshipped it as a fetich are rapidly disappearing. A large 

 nurnber have acquainted themselves with this valuable servant 

 and are deriving that lielp of which advantage has been taken 

 hy the younger generation of physicians. 



If then the microscope is of so much value in general medicine 

 not only as a means of diagnosis, but for histological, pathologi- 

 'Cal and bacteriological investigators, its importance only gains 

 strength when it is to be applied to special investigations em- 

 bracing a particular class of diseases. I do not purpose giving 

 directions as to the manner in which these examinations are to 

 be made in dermatology. It would certainly exceed the limits 

 of any ordinary paper to take up seriatim the various troubles 

 and conditions of the skin in which the application of the mic- 

 roscope is of special value. One thing, however, may be done 

 and that is a general division of dermatoses in two classes in 

 respect to microscopic examination for diagnostic purposes. 

 Thus, we have those diseases in which the manipulations may 

 be made seance tenante occupying but a few minutes for the en- 

 tire process. On the other hand, we have a class in which 

 some time must elapse in order that the material may be properly 

 prepared for examination, the length of time varying greatly, as 

 it may necessitate the cultivation of micro-organisms or other 

 processes requiring a greater or less amount of time. 



While the majority of these manipulations are of a more or 

 less simple character in those cases where a rapid examination 

 <;an be made, it will be readily understood that a certain amount 



