CHAPTER II. 



An exact Method of appreciating the Quality of Micro- 

 scopes and Engiscopes, fyc. 



BY C. R. GORING, M.D. 



AT the present epoch, it appears absolutely necessary that 

 the public should be put in possession of some exact 

 means of appreciating the excellencies and defects of 

 microscopes and engiscopes. It is true that the proof 

 objects originally discovered by me are sufficient for that 

 purpose in honest hands, and when used with the precau- 

 tions I have pointed out. But it is well known that they have 

 been shamefully abused, owing to the yarious facilities of 

 resolution which exist between different specimens of lined 

 objects, the external characters of which closely resemble 

 each other ; so that it may be said that these are proof ob- 

 jects, to suit the capacities of all sorts of microscopes ; nay, 

 they are actually perverted to the purpose of deceiving the 

 unscientific part of the public in a much more effectual man- 

 ner than could possibly have been done without them ; more- 

 over, the works of superior artists, such as metals of the most 

 exact figures, and aplanatic object-glasses, having their aber- 

 rations balanced with the most exquisite nicety, are totally 

 unappreciated by the mass of observers, who nevertheless 

 fancy themselves perfect judges of the merits of all sorts 



