1892.] MICKOSCOPICAL JOUKNAL. 1B3 



Impressions of tlie Antwerp Microscopical Exposition. 



By R. II. WARD, M. D. 



[President's Address at the Microscopical Section of the Troy, N. Y., Scientific Association, 



Oct. 19, 1891.] 



General Arrangements. 



The first general Exposition of Microscopy ever attempted 

 would be, of itself, a most intcrestine^ event, even if it did not en- 

 joy the rare distinction of being a tricentennial celebration of the 

 invention of the compound microscope. .Such an exposition and 

 celebration it was proposed to hold at Antwerp, in connection 

 with an International Botanical Exposition, in the summer of 

 1S90 ; but on account of unexpected difficulties that were encoun- 

 tered it was not opened until last August. 



A local executive committee was appointed, and the manage- 

 ment was placed in the hands of Dr. Henri Van Heurck, the 

 distinguished microscopist and botanist, and director of the excel- 

 lent botanical garden at Antwerp. A committee of honor and 

 patronage was also appointed, its members being selected from 

 the various European nations, and also from Cuba and the 

 United States. 



The plan adopted, including everything fairly pertaining to mi- 

 croscopy, past and present, was broad enough to suit all comers, 

 and exhibits were solicited accordingly. Unforeseen delays oc- 

 curred on account, it is said, of the fact that the most important 

 manufacturers, who were expected to furnish illustrations of the 

 modern styles of instruments, being, in fortunate and remarkable 

 contrast to most other businesses, already favored with demands 

 in advance of their capacity for supply, could not well spare any- 

 thing for exhibition, and did not care to incur the expense of 

 doing so when no direct pecuniary compensation could result. 

 Ultimately, however, the enthusiastic work and magnetic influ- 

 ence of the " President Directeur" Dr. Van Heurck, secured 

 an ample representation of continental manufactures, and also a 

 considerable variety of amateur and professional microscopical 

 work . 



No adequate participation was obtained from England, which 

 country was represented by only two prominent manufacturers, 

 and a scarcely larger number of microscopists, yet received a 

 liberal number of the higher prizes. In America some interest 

 was taken in the enterprise ; but, with the single exception of a 

 few notable photographs contributed jointly by Prof J. D. Cox 

 and an English collaborator, absolutely nothing was done. The 

 distance would naturally increase the inconvenience and expense 

 of participation ; our manufacturers, like those abroad, seem to 

 be fortunately above the need of exhibition as a means of increas- 

 ing trade, or else they feared that the diflerence in prices would 

 have prevented sufficient sales abroad to repay the expense in- 

 curred. Admitting, from a business point of view, the suffi- 



