196 THE MICROSCOPE. [September, 



college graduates. They can seldom aftbrd the cost of even the 

 cheaper instruments in the market, and consequently drop in most 

 cases their studies in this direction on leaving school or college. 

 Most of the machinery and some of the adjustments might be dis- 

 pensed with and the cost thus reduced. It is not likely that by 

 any means the cost of such an instrument could be brought down 

 to the level of the school microscopes, which have been in use in 

 England for nearly forty years, but considerable reduction could 

 be made by the changes suggested. Good instruments of the na- 

 ture above outlined are sold and have been sold for about $15 in 

 England, and are abundantly sufficient for the needs of the average 

 microscopical student. Moreover the ownership of a microscope 

 is essential for the continuation of the study, and the purchase of 

 even an inferior instrument often leads to the purchase of a better 

 one in later life. This reform may be expected to swell the num- 

 ber of that part of the community from which the ranks of the 

 microscopical society are recruited. 



By way of illustrating his remarks, Professor Claypole exhibited 

 a microscope which had been sold in England forty years ago for 

 $1 ^. He wished that something could be done here to put a cheap 

 microscope within the reach of students. This brought forth con- 

 siderable discussion. One wanted to know what w^ere the wages 

 of the men employed to make that instrument. Another called it 

 a toy for a child, a third thought it a prett}' poor piece of work. 

 Professor Rogers and Dr. Ewell spoke in favor of a cheap micro- 

 scope of American make for class-room work, urging that a poor 

 microscope in the hands of a student after leaving college was 

 better than no microscope at all. 



The nominating committee reported the following officers and 

 the report was adopted by their election : President, General Jacob 

 D. Cox, Cincinnati ; First Vice-President, Dr. George M. Stern- 

 berg, Brooklyn ; Second Vice-President, Dr. A. Clifford Mercer, 

 Syracuse ; Secretary for three years, Dr. W. H. Seaman, Wash- 

 ington ; Treasurer for three years, Charles C. Mellor, Pittsburg ; 

 Executive Committee, Dr. Lester Curtis, Chicago ; Dr. J. M. 

 Lamb, Washington ; Dr. William C. Krauss, Butialo. 



The convention adjourned to meet in Chicago next summer, but 

 most of the microscopists remained over in Rochester to attend 

 the meetings of the Association for the Advancement of Science. 



Fine exhibits of microscopes, objectives, accessories, micro- 

 tomes, mounting instruments and materials, lenses of all descrip- 

 tions, cabinets for slides, microscopical literature, and mounted 

 objects were made by many well-known dealers in microscopic 

 supplies. 



The following papers were presented to the committee, but 

 several, owing to the heat and absence of authors, were read by 

 titles only. 



