
——. 
; EBRUARY. 17,1923); 
policy, had much to do with the objections voiced by 
representatives at the Air Conference to the pre- 
¢ 
9 
_ dominance of a military policy. ‘ 
For heavier-than-air craft the feeling of the Con- 
ference appeared to be that the tide was turning, 
notably in the case of fundamental research. Sir 
Geoffrey Salmond mentioned many specific experi- 
-ments anda few fundamental inquiries. Those relating 
_ to safety and trustworthiness received most attention 
in the discussion ; but one item can be dealt with here. 
_ The dangers of flying are few so long as the engine is 
_ running perfectly, a state which cannot be relied on 
to persist for many consecutive hours. Failure of the 
the ground is unsuitable an accident follows. The 
dangers are increased by a peculiarity of an aeroplane 
when its wings are inclined to the wind at more than 
twenty degrees, for it then becomes uncontrollable. 
During the’past year the trained and skilled experi- 
Jat MEETING of the Royal Microscopical Society 
was held on January 24, for the purpose of 
inaugurating an important departure in the history 
and attitude of the society towards national industry 
by the formation of a special section to deal with the 
industrial applications of the microscope. ; : 
Prof. F. J. Cheshire, president of the society, in 
his opening address, said that many years ago it had 
been seriously contended by some pessimistic fellows 
of the Society that its principal work of usefulness 
was done. Events of late years, however, had 
refuted that contention. Why, it was asked, have 
we a Royal Microscopical Society and not a Royal 
Telescopical Society ? The answer was obvious. 
In the case of the telescope, practically any tyro 
could take out an instrument, of which he knew 
nothing or very little, direct it to the moon or any 
other object, and could, with a little practice, obtain 
the very best image which that telescope was capable 
of giving. The microscope could not be used in 
that simple way. It was the most complicated of 
all the optical instruments in common use, and it 
demanded, in its user, a considerable amount of 
optical knowledge and manipulative skill before it 
could be used efficiently and satisfactorily. The use 
of the microscope as a tool was extending day by 
day, advancing step by step with the recognition of 
the great importance of the study of micro-organ- 
isms and micro-structures. The Royal Microscopical 
Society had already carried out certain work in 
connexion with the industrial applications of the 
microscope. Sections, dealing with metallurgy, the 
manufacture of leather and of paper, had been in 
existence for a short time, but it was recognised that 
these specific sections made it difficult for the society 
to deal, as it ought to do, with the practical applica- 
tions to new industrial work. In these circumstances 
it had been decided to form a large general section 
_ dealing with industrial applications of the microscope. 
The work of the section would be to encourage, in 
every possible way, the use of the microscope in 
industry and, at the same time, to give the most 
generous assistance to workers in the new fields of 
endeavour. Any one interested, whether a fellow of 
the Society or not, would be cordially invited to attend 
the meetings of the section. 
A communication by Dr. F. J. Brislee dealt with 
NO. 2781, VOL. IIT] 
is NATURE 
- considerable cost in order to put them into sheds and 
let them decay.. Probably this action, typical of late 
_ power plant brings about a forced landing, and where » 

239 
mental pilots of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, 
working in co-operation with a panel of the Aero- 
nautical Research Committee, have modified an 
aeroplane and flown it at an angle of forty degrees. 
This is a momentous advance, for it leads to the hope 
that the danger arising from lack of control may be 
greatly reduced by further knowledge. It is therefore 
gratifying to find that the Air Ministry is ready to 
provide special aeroplanes solely for research by the 
Aeronautical Research Committee. It will be neces- 
sary to develop instruments for the inquiry, for we 
are still without adequate means of observation in 
flight except for the simplest types of motion, but 
again the Air Ministry is ready to give assistance. 
Our lead in aeronautical research has been greatly 
reduced by America, but we appear to be regaining 
our power for progress, and a continuation of present 
policy may be expected to lead to that progress in 
aviation which is so clearly required for projected 
developments in civil aviation and for the defence of 
the realm. 

Industrial Applications of the Microscope. 
the necessity of providing facilities for more definite 
instruction and training in the practical use and 
manipulation of the modern microscope, and outlined 
the manner in which the Royal Microscopical Society 
could be of assistance to those who had to use the 
microscope in industrial processes. Dr. Brislee 
further indicated the lines on which this practical 
training should proceed, starting with low-power 
work, the preparation, mounting, and examination 
of specimens, and proceeding gradually to the more 
difficult problems. 
Dr. J. S. Owens (Superintendent to the Advisory 
Committee on Atmospheric Pollution) read a com- 
munication on atmospheric pollution. The import- 
ance of this subject to those working in large factories 
and to the general health of the community was 
insisted upon, and many interesting exhibits and 
lantern slides illustrated the means by which samples 
of polluted air were collected and examined. The 
method adopted is one in which a given volume 
of air is collected and then deprived of suspended 
matter by causing it to issue from the container 
as a jet and impinge against a prepared glass surface. 
Many unsolved problems were submitted to the meet- 
ing and suggestions invited as to the best methods of 
determining the actual nature of the particles of dust, 
oil, micro-organisms and other foreign matter collected. 
In connexion with the leather - making industry, 
Dr. Browning suggested the more general use of 
the microscope in the control of the various processes. 
He showed sections of skin before and after puering, 
and stated that if it was necessary to remove the 
elastic tissue by puering, then this could be con- 
trolled only by the use of the microscope. Samples 
examined from several sources showed that different 
manufacturers were content with more or less re- 
moval of the elastic tissue. They could not all be 
right. Every detail in the preparation of specimens 
and the cutting of sections of leather was practically 
demonstrated by Miss Scott, and finished slides were 
exhibited. 
Apparatus specially constructed for research work 
in many industries was demonstrated and described 
by Messrs. J. W. Atha and Co., R. and J. Beck, Ltd., 
The Cambridge and Paul Instrument Co., Ltd., 
Ogilvy and Co., J. Swift and Son, and W. Watson 
and Sons, Ltd. 
