198 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY ~ [October, 
osities to excite a passing interest, would, in time, come to an end of the 
interest of the subject. With the true aim of study with the microscope be- 
fore one, and thoroughly appreciated, interest cannot flag. But to be a little 
more concrete. There are many lines of study which are to be pursued by 
the microscope, and which have an end, or aim, beyond mere accumulation ; 
an end interesting in itself. One of these is found in animal histology, a line 
of study which, though it receives so much attention, is still far from worked 
out, and which would interest most students once well initiated, so that they 
would never tire of its pursuit. Plant histology, and embryology of both 
plants and animals, pathology, petrography, and so on, all furnish lines of 
work of perennial interest to the student. We may say that any line of study, | 
when it is real, genuine scientific study, will stimulate growing interest in 
almost any studiously inclined mind. 
But how shall the isolated amateur, who uses the instrument only in the 
evenings, become properly introduced to nature so as to be an intimate ac- 
quaintance of nature and not a mere spectator. Of course the first answer to 
this question is the recommendation to attend a laboratory course in the line 
desired, when, by precept and the stimulus and suggestions from fellow- 
workers, one can find the true road and learn to walk therein: But this is 
not often possible. In that event we should suggest that one select a subject 
sufficiently definite, and, by correspondence, guide-books, etc., pursue it per- 
sistently until the path was found. One line which would be of continual 
interest, we should think, would be pathological histology, especially for 
the physicians, and for such the course would be to buy or borrow some typ- 
ical slides and some prepared material showing definite disorders, and study 
them in comparison with the normal tissues till the normal structure is under- 
stood and the particular abnormality detected. 
It is by no means to any one line that we would confine this recommend- 
ation; we mention it as one example. If interest in microscopical studies 
flags it is because the student has ceased to seek the answer to questions as 
his aim, and is merely collecting specimens. His interest in collecting may 
go on indefinitely, or it may cease; but, if he has an unsettled question to 
answer it will stimulate him to fresh inquiry. The nature of the question 
individual taste must determine. 
MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
The regular semi-monthly meeting, held on August 24, 1887, at its rooms, 120 Sutter 
street. President Wickson occupied the chair. 
Dr. Harkness made a preliminary report on the kelp covered by mollusca, which 
was referred to him at the last meeting. A more complete examination of the material 
will be made in due course. 
_ The resignation of A. H. Breckenfeld, offered on account of his approaching de- 
parture for San Diego, was accepted. President Wickson spoke feelingly of the ex- 
ceedingly pleasant relations which had always existed between the retiring officer and 
the society, and at the conclusion of his remarks a cordial vote of thanks was tendered 
Mr. Breckenfeld for his services as recording secretary. Under a suspension of the 
rules he was duly elected an honorary member of the society, and thereupon fittingly 
expressed his appreciation of the honor conferred. His successor will be elected at 
the next meeting. 
A piece of wood, apparently fossilized, was sent in by Geo. A. Raymond, with the 
information that it had been struck at a depth of 325 feet in an artesian well now being 
bored in Kern county, Cal. The overlying material was mostly clay, and the sur- 
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