108 THE MICROSCOPE. 



terations, without being struck with the re- 

 markable place the Microscope has occupied on 

 this subject of national interest ? 



5. The Microscope offers singular advantages 

 to the Anatomist and the Physician. To this 

 instrument, e.g., we owe the first proof seen by 

 the eye of man of the truth of the theory which 

 has immortalized the name of Harvey. He 

 reasoned out the theory of the circulation of the 

 blood, but never himself saw blood to circulate. 

 The Microscope shows us the blood as it actually 

 pursues its marvellous course. By examining 

 the veins and arteries of transparent animals, 

 such as the water-newt, eel, and especially the 

 frog, under the Microscope, we can discern the 

 exquisitely beautiful process; and we can scarcely 

 imagine a more striking evidence of the Divine 

 skill manifested in our physical conformation 

 than that which is thus presented to us. 



In 1837, M. Audouin announced that the silk- 

 worms, then for years widely perishing in the 

 south of France, were destroyed by the growth 

 of a fungous vegetation in the interior of their 

 bodies ; and it appears that the farther propa- 

 gation of the disease was at that time arrested 



