1890.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 7 



Prizes for Microscopical Work. 



By C. a. STEPHENS, 



NORWAY LAKE, ME. 



From a desire to verify my own researches as to the causes of failing 

 nutrition in aging organisms, I ot^er three cash prizes of $175, $125, 

 and $100 for the best three comparative demonstrations, by means of 

 microscopical slides, of the blood capillaries in young and in aged tis- 

 sues, canine or human. 



By young tissues (canine) are meant tissues from animals between 

 the ages of one and three years. By aged tissues (canine) are meant 

 tissues from animals not less than twelve years of age. By young tis- 

 sues (human) are meant tissues from subjects between the ages of ten 

 and twenty years. By aged tissues (human) are meant tissues from 

 subjects not less than sixty-five years of age. 



While a preference will be given to demonstrations from human tis- 

 sues, it will be possible for work in canine tissues to take the first and, 

 indeed, all of the prizes. But of two slides equally well done in all 

 respects, one canine, the other human, the latter will be given the pref- 

 erence. Canine tissues should be from large animals. 



Twelve slides from young and twelve from aged tissues must be sub- 

 mitted by each competitor, together with a full description of the sub- 

 jects, methods pursued, and every detail and circumstance which is 

 likely to throw light upon or account for any peculiarity. The slides 

 are for comparison as to the condition of capillary circulation, the young 

 with the old, and should be in numbered pairs or groups from the same 

 kind of tissue. The term tissue is used in a general sense, ^.^, pul- 

 monary tissue, hepatic tissue, renal tissue, osseous tissue, muscular tis- 

 sue, nerve tissue, alimentary tissue, etc. 



No particular schedule of methods for injection or staining will be 

 insisted upon, and no more definite directions or explanations will be 

 given. The slides, carefully packed and boxed, together with descrip- 

 tive manuscript, can be sent by mail. It is stipulated that the demon- 

 strations which receive the prizes shall become the property of the sub- 

 scriber, for publication. All others will be returned, if desired. 



No pseudonymns required. Accompany slides in every case with 

 (real) name and address. Unless of known reputation as a biologist, 

 a reference is respectfully solicited. Reservation : No award will be 

 made unless work of at least ordinary merit is submitted. This offer 

 is made on the first day of January, 1890, and will remain open until 

 the twentieth day of August, 1890. The prizes will be adjudged on 

 the first day of October, 1890. 



These nominal prizes are offered less in expectation of results from 

 the money as an agent than in the hope that the offer may furnish a 

 foint d'appui for really needed work. Besides professional observers 

 and students, there are in the United States a large number of amateur 

 microscopists of acute vision and undoubted talent who are at present 

 playing with microscopes, as with toys, merely to see curious or pretty 

 things. The time has come to concentrate observation upon the one 

 proper object of biology, viz., the renovation and prolongation of hu- 

 may life. 



