1884.] 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



237 



similar style made here. Our read- 

 ers well know that we strongly ad- 

 vocate the use of the low, German 

 microscopes for general work. We 

 have likewise urged their manufacture 

 here, to meet a reasonable demand. 

 Yet, when a writer endeavors to prove, 

 by such inadequate methods, that for- 

 eign microscopes are superior to our 

 own, the arguments deserve at least 

 some refutation. 



Let us enquire what constitutes the 

 superiority of a microscope. If it is 

 to be used for the ordinary purposes 

 of a naturalist, surely the simplest im- 

 aginable stand will do all that is re- 

 quired. It will be found, as a rule, 

 that the persons who affect to despise 

 the fine microscopes of the present 

 day, although they may be good ob- 

 servers in their particular fields, have 

 no knowledge of the more delicate 

 methods of microscopical investiga- 

 tion. Many of them have never used 

 a beam of light out of the optic axis, 

 and as for manipulation to discover 

 fine details, why, they could not show 

 the dots on the PleurosigTna angula- 

 tum. 



A very different case is presented 

 when we consider the requirements of 

 those who find it necessary to use the 

 best objectives, and to test their high- 

 est capabilities in their work. There 

 are now required larger and more 

 elaborate stands. We need not ex- 

 plain why, as every experienced mi- 

 croscopist knows very well. It ap- 

 pears, also, that even on the continent 

 there is a steadily increasing demand 

 for more elaborate and larger stands 

 than were heretofore much used, and 

 the large stand of Zeiss is no less elab- 

 orate, while considerably heavier, than 

 stands made in this country that will 

 do the same work. To condemn such 

 stands is to virtually deny the value of 

 the best objectives. It is possible that 

 if the writer of the paragraphs under 

 notice had carefully read the ai'ticle 

 published in the October number, 

 which was read by the present writer 

 before Section G of the A. A. A. S., 

 he would have learned just what value 



these objectives possess, and also why 

 it is not possible to get the full benefit 

 of them on the common German 

 stands. He might also have learned 

 that they are constructed for special 

 purposes, and that they actually do 

 fulfil those purposes ; that their value 

 in scientific investigation is capable of 

 accurate mathematical expression, and 

 is not merely a matter of personal 

 opinion. 



o- 



Microscopical Societies. — Last 

 month we referred at some length to 

 this subject, indicating some of the 

 causes which tend to interfere with 

 the efficiency and prosperity of socie- 

 ties of this kind. It may be assumed 

 that all such organizations that are 

 formed, in the smaller towns at least, 

 will be composed in great part of per- 

 sons who do not make any preten- 

 sions as professional scientific men. 

 If there should be two or three pro- 

 fessional observers among them it will 

 be all that can be expected. In other 

 words, such societies are sure to be 

 formed of amateurs, most of whom 

 use the microscope for instruction 

 or entertainment, without attempting 

 original research. It would be well, 

 indeed, if some of these could be led 

 to take up some branch of study sys- 

 tematically. The attempt has often 

 been made to induce members to do 

 this by introducing resolutions ap- 

 pointing certain ones to investigate 

 and report upon specified subjects. 

 This scheme is sure to fail of the de- 

 sired results. It is impossible to in- 

 duce scientific work in this way. No 

 purely artificial incentive will do it. 

 How, then, can it be brought about.? 

 There is only one way to accom- 

 plish this result. It is by no means 

 the sole object of microscopical so- 

 cieties, and, while a very important 

 one, it should not be regarded as the 

 primary one. It will be an incidental 

 result of meetings that are conducted 

 in a manner to be most interesting to 

 all the members. It cannot be brought 

 about by meetings ostensibly con- 

 ducted to attain that end. The offi- 



