1901) MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 159 
British Versus Continental Microscopes. 
M. I. CROSS. 
For accurate original research, where the worker has 
some understanding of the mechanical and optical means 
at his disposal, there is no microscope in the world to be 
compared with the best of those produced by the leading 
British houses. In them are to be found refinements of 
mechanical skill which, suitably employed, call forth a re- 
sponse from objectives and condensers which causes them 
to yield their very best effects. Hvenin the British mod- 
els of medium size and modest cost there are to be found 
several that are butslightly less effective than the largest, 
and with which no Continental stand can vie. 
Yet the British microscope plays but an insignificant 
part, numerically, inthe world’ssupply. In laboratories 
and in places where microscopes are largely used, the 
Continental instrument holds sway and seems likely to 
maintain it, at any rate for the present. The question of 
price is not the factor in the existing state of things, for 
even in students’ stands the British manufacturer keeps 
his rates at the competitive mark. Why then is it that 
he does not receive a larger share of appreciation and 
home support ? 
The reasons usually given appear to be two in number, 
andare— (1). The British microscope exceeds the needs 
of the laboratory worker and student; (2). The casing 
and general “fit up” is inferior. The first is distinctly a 
_ laboratory cry, and may be regarded as due to want of 
appreciation and education in matters microscopical. The 
second is more general in its Soman and in a lesser 
degree influential. 
To do the largest amount of work in the least possible 
time with the most cut and dried materials is a spirit 
which pervades the present day, and it applies to micro- 
scopical as much as to other spheres of activity. 
