188 THE MICROSCOPE. [Septeraher, 



professor would generously circulate a set of such better sections 

 (if any) with simple explanations of just what they are intended 

 to demonstrate. In the meantime these slides and notes enable 

 the beginner (and one must have a beginning) to make out for 

 himself points of structure which have heretofore puzzled his 

 untrained pow'ers of discrimination." To a somewhat flippant 

 remark, "' These slides are not things of beauty or a joy," some one 

 replied tartly, '^ Hypercriticism is one form of ignorant conceit. 

 A truly educated eye will not perceive thickness or dirt to the 

 exclusion of merit in a mount. The first question ought to be, 

 Does it show wdiat the preparer intended ? If it does, study it, 

 and do better if vou can. There are too many merely thin sec- 

 tions that give no idea of the relation of structures. These mounts 

 are quite good enough for me." A professional slide by a well- 

 known expert brought out the following interesting and sugges- 

 tive discussion : 



•' Such a slide proves absolutely valueless to 90 per cent, of those 

 who see it." * * * 



" Well, count me among the other 10 per cent. The micro-or- 

 ganisms are stained with aniline blue, and the other elements w^ith 

 Bismark brown. The slide demonstrates the wonderful selective 

 properties of the dyes." * * * 



•• It would always be well to examine a slide before condemning 

 it. Any one by using a suitable power can see the rod-shaped 

 bacteria stained dark blue or red among the irregular granular 

 particles stained brown." * * * 



'• Would be glad to see a few more such slides. With proper 

 objectives one can notice the excellent staining." * * * 



'' The adverse critics of this slide have doubtless merely followed 

 the common practice of condemning because they did not under- 

 stand." * * * 



" I. for one, will have to be counted among the 90 per cent. ; for, 

 not having the advantage of being a physician, I am in want of 

 some •• illumination ' on this slide, and the only knowledge I 

 have of it has been left out of it by the contributor for others to 

 mention. I think that rule ' a ' is to be observed just as much as 



any of the others, even if it is not printed in italics or red ink." 



* * * 



"All of the above comments are well founded. The slide is 

 interesting and instructive, but the contributor ought,, in justice to 

 his fellow members, and particularly to those who are not posted 

 in that line, to have given an explanation to point the learner to 

 the information which the specimen conveys. Those who so 

 hastily condemned the slide (and its contributor ?) for the lack of 

 such explanation had better first have tried to have ' posted up ' 

 on the subject so as to be able to understand and appreciate it, and 

 would then have withheld such comments, which must have been 

 made without much effort to understand the slide." * * * 



