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COBRESPONDENOE. 
their study, I would take pleasure in sending him a series of such 
prints on glass, to which I would also add some which give the true 
resolution of the higher bands. I think he would then arrive at con- 
clusions differing in important particulars from those which he has 
expressed. 
Very respectfully, 
J. J. WOODWAKD, 
Assist.-Surgeon U.S. Army. 
The "Bramhall" Eeflector, or New Oblique Light 
Illuminator. 
To the Editor of the '■Monthly Microscopical Journal.'' 
Sir, — I have much pleasure in calling the attention of those 
interested in the resolution of the striae on the finely lined forms of 
Diatomacese to a simple form of apparatus invented by the Kev. — 
Bramhall, of Lynn, which after a careful trial I am able to say is 
superior to anything I have hitherto had the opportunity of trying. 
This illuminator in its simplest form consists of a disk of silvered 
glass about one inch in diameter, mounted in a wood or brass fitting 
similar to a selenite stage ; the disk should be sunk in it about one- 
eighth of an inch. Mr. Bramhall informs me that with sunlight it 
resolves striae far better than any other mode of illumination. My 
own experience has only been with the ordinary micro lamp ; this 
requires to be elevated from three to four inches above the stage, and 
the light, after passing through the large bull's-eye condenser, should 
impinge on a smaller one placed close to the stage, the height of 
the lamp from the surface of the condenser of course regulating the 
obliquity of the reflected ray. 
The performance of the reflector is improved if, instead of being 
constructed of silvered glass, a disk of speculum metal is substituted, 
and in place of the supplementary stage the reflector should be 
mounted on an adapter fitting into the sub-stage of the microscope ; 
by this means the distance from the lower surface of the slide can be 
regulated. 
This illuminator can also be used in place of the " Spot Lens " 
with the lower powers, but a short tube to slide on the objective is 
necessary to prevent the reflexion from the upper surface slide passing 
into the objective. I find that the tube attached to the Lieberkuhn 
(the reflecting portion being detached) answers very well. 
Careful adjustment of the objective is necessary, and the object 
should be perfectly parallel with the stage of the microscope. 
Yours very truly, 
Fred. Kitton. 
P.S. — Mr. C. Baker, 244, High Holborn, London, has undertaken 
to supply the Bramhall reflector. 
