592 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



the beautiful grain of tous-les-mois, besides sugar crystals and inor- 

 ganic matter, that may be colouring matter, or may be dirt — in one 

 case, I suspect, plaster-of-paris. Mustard showed pea-flour, potato- 

 starcb, and wheat-flour, as well as inorganic matter, probably plaster- 

 of-paris. Oatmeal showed wheat-flour, and maizena potato-starch. 



I give these just as examples of what is and of what may be done. 

 It is not our province to do with legislative action, yet we have, I 

 think, a right to know what it is that we eat and drink. Many of 

 the adulterations are in themselves harmless to the public health, 

 though not to the public morals. This species of microscopist is 

 much needed, and I regret that, so far as our Society goes, we have no 

 member that has given himself up to this work in a systematic and 

 careful manner ; but certain it is that such a work needs doing, and 

 doing well. I can only bid you hope that our energetic Secretary will 

 secure for us numerous specimens of M. detergitata. 



M. medicus is the medical microscopist. Our learned and much 

 honoured President comes, of course, under this title. One would 

 say that specimens of this species would be found in abundance about 

 our rooms, making themselves heard above the more subdued voices 

 of other species ; for surely the Microscope must be a necessity for 

 medical men, and one would certainly have predicated that our Society's 

 literature would have been enriched by their contributions many and 

 learned ; but, with the one exception of our President, I do not think 

 that for years a solitary specimen of the ilf. medicus has been heard 

 in our gatherings. I cannot altogether account for this : I do not 

 know if the class is an exceptionally shy one — shrinking from pub- 

 licity — in no case courting profane gaze, and with a modest dislike to 

 uttering opinions in gas-light, and never on any occasion advancing 

 thoughts that are not well matured and tested. It may be the M. 

 medicus has a difficulty in consorting with other species of the same 

 genus, and prefers buzzing only where his more immediate kin are 

 found. I do not know what bait must be prepared to catch this re- 

 markable shy form : possibly our President may give our Secretary a 

 few hints on the subject. 



My last species is the M. germanus, a true genuine microscopist. 

 Of this species we have some admirable examples, men who patiently 

 and i^erseveringly take up some section of the wide world of science, 

 and work on and on till they have worked out some beautiful system, 

 or worked up the whole life-history of a race. It is those men who 

 add to the sum of the world's knowledge, and so add to the sum of its 

 happiness. The discovery of truth in any one line cannot but be 

 beneficial, for every discovery of truth helps in the discovery of other 

 truth, and sometimes in lines remote enough from the first. The 

 story of the world of science is full of instances of this. And every 

 man who lays a stone may know that he is doing something for the 

 completion of that grand temple of truth that shall fill the world 

 with its radiance. 



Gentlemen, we exist that we may bring together these various 

 classes, all interested, though in diff'erent ways, with microscopy. Men 

 of kindred pursuits naturally desire to meet each other, or should do 



