234 



THE AMERICAN MONTHLY 



[December, 



fill it with contributions from Ameri- 

 can authors. A few persons had grave 

 doubts whether there were a suffici- 

 ent number of microscopists in this 

 country who would contribute to such 

 a paper and make it successful. As a 

 matter of fact, however, we have not 

 yet been obliged to reprint a single ar- 

 ticle from another publication. 



The Journal is nothing more nor 

 less than it purports to be — a maga- 

 zine devoted to practical microscopy. 

 It aims to keep its readers informed 

 concerning the progress of microsco- 

 pical research, especially in the United 

 States; but a glance through the Index 

 will show that investigations in other 

 countries have not been overlooked 

 in the " Notes " and editorial articles. 

 That its elementary character does 

 not make it unworthy the attention of 

 scientific men and investigators en- 

 gaged in original work, the subscrip- 

 tion-list clearly shows. We would, in- 

 deed, be pleased to give the Journal 

 a more advanced position in the peri- 

 odical scientific literature of the day ; 

 but to do so would involve greater ex- 

 pense for illustrations, with an in- 

 crease in size, and it is doubtful if such 

 a change would be advisable. 



We are pleased to add that the criti- 

 cal period of the existence of this pe- 

 riodical is passed, and that its success 

 is assured. The prospects were never 

 better than they now are. During the 

 year just closing the subscription-list 

 has been slowly but steadily growing, 

 and we have reason to expect many 

 additions next year. Subscribers will 

 please remember that the early pay- 

 ment of subscriptions greatly assists 

 the business management of the 

 Journal. 



o 



Prof. Abbe's Binocular Eye- 

 piece. — A letter from Mr. Zeiss to 

 the Secretary of the New York Mi- 

 croscopical Society, gives some infor- 

 mation about this instrument. It is 

 sold for 150 marks at Jena — Mr. 

 Emmerich offers it for $56.25 in New 

 York. It is adapted to the continen- 

 tal microscopes with short tubes, and 



though the same system could be ap- 

 plied to long tubes, the prisms would 

 have to be quite large, and the appa- 

 ratus would be too large and heavy 

 for convenience. The oculars as 

 now made permit correct adjustment 

 of the diaphragms for any length of 

 tube between 13 ^™- and 16 ''™- (5.2 and 

 6.4 inches). It weighs about 600 

 grammes. 



o 



Microscope Exchange-bureau. 

 — Many of our readers have second- 

 hand stands or objectives which they 

 desire to sell, and we are frequently 

 asked to find purchasers for them. 

 We also have frequent applications 

 from others who wish to buy either 

 new or second-hand apparatus. We 

 have, therefore, decided to establish 

 an " Exchange-bureau " for the ac- 

 commodation of those who desire to 

 sell or buy second-hand microscopes 

 or accessories. We merely call atten- 

 tion to the subject in this place, re- 

 ferring to the advertisement on page 

 v for further particulars. 



Death of M. C. S. Nachet. — 

 The London Times of Nov. 22d 

 contains a notice of the death of M. 

 Camille S^bastien Nachet, written by 

 Mr. John Mayall, Jr., which we print 

 in full :— 



" At the last meeting of the Royal 

 Microscopical Society the death was 

 announced of Mr. Camille Sebastian 

 Nachet, the founder of the well-known 

 firm of opticians Nachet at Fils, of 

 Paris. Early in life M. Nachet for- 

 med a friendship with Chevalier, the 

 eminent optician, of Paris : he took great 

 interest in the construction of optical ins- 

 truments, particularly microscopes, on 

 which Chevalier was specially engaged. 

 At that date the improved manufacture 

 of various kinds of flint glass by Guinaud 

 (the predecessor of Pfeil), of Paris, gave 

 a great impetus to the improvement of 

 microscopes on the Continent, while en- 

 gaging the attention of Brewster, Hers- 

 chel, Goring, Dollond, Pritchard, etc., in 

 England. En 1834 M. Nachet undertook 

 the direction of the microscope depart- 

 ment in Chevalier's house, and during 



