1901) MiICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 99 
compound microscope in American pharmacy, calling at- 
tention to the value of this instrument in the examination 
of vegetable drugs and their adulterants. It was, how- 
ever, not until some thirty years later that the compound . 
microscope was used to any considerable extent in the 
study of vegetable drugs. It was looked upon as an im- 
practicable instrument, having no commercial significance, 
and presenting no advantages over the simple microscope. 
Now and then some teacher or investigator would arise 
and reiterate the recommendations of Dr. Hoffman, or 
present some new phase of microscopic work in pharmacy, 
only to be met with the same indifference, if not actual 
opposition and ridicule. It is, therefore, little wonder 
that slow progress should have been made in the histo- 
logic study of medicinal plants. 
In Germany the compound microscope found a steady 
use in pharmaceutical practice. In 1865 Berg published 
his excellent atlas illustrating the histology of the more 
important vegetable drugs, and even at this date there is 
nothing produced by an English or American investiga- 
tor which equals this work.—ALBERT SCHNEIDER, M. D., 
in Meyer Bros. Druggist. 
——— 
A Peep Through the Magic Glass. 
S. P. SAUNDERS. 
From paper on Sponges, read before the O. C. P. 
I desire to give you a peep through this magic glass, 
but before doing so I shall try to describe the scene. 
Before you lies a wide stretch of lively water of the 
most varied and brilliant shades of blue, green, purple, 
slate, brown and yellow. This remarkable diversity of 
colors is altogether caused by the nature of the bottom, 
as the water itself is absolutely clear and colorless. In 
the distance is a broad expanse of burnished and moving 
emerald. This indicates a bottom of white sand. Across 
the emerald run serpentine bands of celestial blue where 
