THE Microscope. 265 
they wonld be happier and their friends more comfortable. Those 
American microscopists who love everything German, are fond 
of these horse-shoes. Their liking may be a remnant of the 
superstition that a horse-shoe brings good luck. I can explain 
it on no other basis, for as a microscope foot, nothing can be more 
needless or foolish. If the reader has such a remnant in his 
blood, he would better tack the horse-shoe over his door, and 
select a microscope foot in the form of a flattened tripod. 
~ Most of the American stands, even the cheapest, and most of 
the English, have the tripod base, which is all that can be de- 
sired. It is graceful, firm, and altogether acceptable. Some 
one has said that a foot of this shape needs to have only the 
tips of its toes in contact with the table to stand firmly. The 
horse-shoe base needs its entire lower surface in contact with the 
table, a kind of flat footed contrivance not wanted in this coun- 
try, where it is well known that anything flat flooted is deficient 
in intellect. 
The tripod base obtains its stability by its form and the ex- 
tended area of its surface. It cannot be accidentally overturned, 
and it keeps the stand well and securely balanced at any angle 
of inclination, even when the body is in a horizontal position. 
Usually the truncated ends of the three arms have each a square 
toe beneath it so that the foot bears on the the table only at 
three points. 
Another simple but admirable contrivance common to several 
first class American stands is a square board which is buttoned 
to the foot, thus insuring still greater stability, and forming not 
only an excellent means of support when the stand is to be car- 
ried around without the case, but an excellent means of sliding 
the whole into the case, where two lateral tongues should be 
arranged for it to glide on, with two grooves in the board to re- 
ceive the cleats. Thus supplied the stand is never in danger of 
toppling over when carried about in the case. Makers would do 
well to add it to all stands, although every owner can easily 
make the addition for himself. Some microscope cases have 
buttons on the floor which are to be turned over the tripod arms 
to hold the stand in position, but they are a nuisance, especially 
when the microscopist is a little hurried, while if the stand is 
attached to the base-board it can be rapidly shd into position. 
On the foot of first class stands like Bulloch’s “ Congress ” and 
