Till PREFACE. 



Many important points still remain untouched, but it is believed that 

 in its present form most beginners will find in it all the information 

 that they may require upon general topics. 



As the want of all illustrations of the stands of different makers, and 

 of many accessories, has been urged as an objection to the first edition, 

 and as we have not deemed it advisable to fully supply this omission in 

 the present issue, a word of explanation may not be out of place. One 

 great object in view in the preparation of this book was the furnishing 

 of a cheap manual for those who cannot afford the more expensive books 

 of Carpenter, Beale, Frey, etc. To have given anything like a fair rep- 

 resentation of the products of the different makers of this country and 

 of Europe, would have nearly doubled the size and price of the volume. 

 But if the reader will examine the engravings of stands, etc., in the 

 books just mentioned, he will find that, even in the best of them, these 

 illustrations are mere reproductions of the figures found in the descrip- 

 tive lists of the various dealers. As new editions of these lists are being 

 constantly issued, and as they may in most cases be obtained without 

 cost from those that publish them, we have thought it best to refer our 

 readers to these catalogues for information in regard to the construction 

 of the instruments of different makers. For the addresses of the promi- 

 nent microscope makers of this country and Europe we refer our 

 readers to "The Microscopist's Annual." 



In this, as in the previous edition, we have omitted all descriptions of 

 objects, believing that the proper aim of a book on the microscope 

 should not be to teach the general principles of botany, zoology or 

 histology, but simply the best methods of using the microscope in the 

 pursuit of these studies. The proper books in which to find a descrip- 

 tion of objects, are those which treat of that department of science which 

 takes cognizance of the special subject under consideration. The 

 present volume is intended merely as a guide to the best general 

 methods of using the microscope. 



It has been a source of great satisfaction to the author to be assured 

 by those whom he deems good authority, that this little book has done 

 much to foster the use of the microscope in this country, and he hopes 

 that the present improved edition will tend to still further increase the 

 deep interest which is already felt in an instrument which has done 

 more than any other to extend our knowledge of organic nature. 



New York, August, 1877. 



