15U THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [June, 



MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 



A Silver Medal for Dr. Taylor. — In its report just an- 

 nounced, the Jury of Awards of the International Exposition at 

 Paris, 18S9, has awarded the grand prize to the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture for " Organization, Methods, and Material 

 for Agricultural Instruction." 



In the award, Professors W. O. Atwater and Thomas Taylor are 

 particularly distinguished : Professor Atwater for his exhibit of maps 

 and photographs of agricultural colleges, and Dr. Taylor, micros- 

 copist, for his collection of photographs and drawings of the 

 microscopic analysis of food adulterations, especially butter. 



Each of these gentlemen is awarded a silver medal. 



An Electric Microscope. — A microscope has been made in 

 Munich, Germany, at a cost of $8, 800, for the World's Fair, 

 which, setting aside its great power and scientific value, is re- 

 markable for the number of electrical adaptations that have been 

 employed to increase its efficiency. Electricity not only fur- 

 nishes and regulates the light which, placed in the focus of a par- 

 abolic aluminum reflector, reaches an intensity of 1 1 ,000 candle- 

 power, but provides an ingenious automatic mechanism for cen- 

 tering the quadruple condensers and illuminating the lenses. 

 The distance of the carbon point is controlled by the same means. 



The most wonderful feature of the instrument is, however, the 

 cooling machine. The intense illuminating power naturally pro- 

 duces extreme heat, and this is modified by a machine which pro- 

 vides the microscopic and polariscopic systems of the apparatus 

 with a fine cooling spray. 



This spray is composed of carbonic acid which, when released 

 from a copper vessel in which it is held under very high pressure, 

 is converted into gaseous matter so intensely cold that only .00007 

 gram of the acid per second is required to produce the result. 

 With the ordinary objectives the magnifying power of the instru- 

 ment is 1 1 ,000 diameters. — Electricity. 



E. H. Griffith, the inventor of the Club microscope, sends us 

 an account of the marriage of his daughter, Mary Josephine, to 

 Rev. Robt. Rabb, of Monticello, S. C, May 20,' 1893. Mr. 

 Rabb is to be pastor of the First Baptist Church at Eugene City, 

 Oregon. 



In Austria the pharmacist is compelled by law to keep a mi- 

 croscope in his store. 



Bausch & Lomb's New Buildings. — The largest of the 

 new buildings will be 185 feet on the Vincent place, or south 

 side, 80 feet on the east, 53 feet on the west, and 162 feet on the 

 north, and will be five stories in height, including the basement, 

 l^etween this and the present buildings, and coming a little in 

 front of them, will be a handsome new engine-house 64 feet by 

 40 feet and 22 in height, with a very wide, massive stone entrance 



