1896.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 143 



lump — nearly 400 pages. Probably we can reprint the short 

 papers one or two at a time and let the long ones be buried in 

 the hands of the 203 to 278 members, most of whom will 

 never find time to read them. 



Ought not all friends of microscopy to consider this con- 

 dition of affairs and to advise with us and with the influential 

 members of the society regarding the wise course to persue? 

 If we could be furnished with the manuscripts as fast as they 

 are ready commencing immediately after the meeting, we 

 could lay the whole matter before our much larger constitu- 

 ency sooner than the society can do it through the proceed- 

 ings. But of course this would render the annual volume 

 unneccessary. 



But to come to the volume itself. It is creditable in every 

 way. It opens with the address of the president, S. H. Gage, 

 which we have already published. Over 60 pages are consumed 

 with the secretary's minutes of the meeting. These contain 

 the comments of members upon the papers read as well as the 

 discussions of business. When the society shall have relegated 

 its business affairs to a council or governing board and thus 

 eliminated talk about such things from its sessions it will have 

 taken a long step in advance of its present attitude. There is 

 always talk over items of business which is not worth publish- 

 ing — so of the stereotyj)ed addresses of welcome and of thanks. 

 They must be spoken but not necessarily printed. 



Of the specific papers, we will speak later. 



MICROSCOPICAL APPARATUS. 



On A Novel Microscope and Mechanical Stage. — I am 



now reminded of my promise, made some weeks ago, to 

 describe in the " E.M." a new form of microscope recently con- 

 structed by myself. At present I am much pressed for time, 

 and seldom come up to London, and therefore cannot conveni- 

 ently exhibit the instrument. 



The original intention was to make up, entirely by means of 

 lathe-work, a simple form of microscope for a child's use ; but, 

 after commencing, certain alterations suggested themselves. 



