CHAPTER II. 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



A LARGE amount of valuable information would 

 have been acquired in reference to natural objects, 

 had they been surveyed only by the unassisted 

 eye. Scientific research would obviously have 

 been aided by the simple magnifying glasses so 

 commonly used ; but at length an instrument 

 was obtained surpassing all others. Its name, Micro- 

 scope, is derived from two Greek words meaning 

 " to see small things," Its early history is involved 

 in obscurity ; and we can only glance at a few 

 striking facts illustrative of its invention, and 

 indicative of the still more wondrous results of its 

 further improvement. 



It is remarkable that Seneca should state, that 

 " letters, although minute and obscure, appear larger 

 and more clear through a glass vessel full of 

 water ;" and yet that no valuable application should 

 have been made of the discovery by the ancients. 

 A single microscope may be easily obtained by 

 piercing a small circular hole in a slip of metal, 

 and introducing into it a drop of water, which will 

 assume a spherical form on each side of the plate ; 



