504 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
COMPANIONS TO THE MICROSCOPE.* 
E VERY working microscopist knows the Micrographic Dictionary, and 
is therefore familiar with Dr. Griffith’s name. It will consequently 
delight him to learn — especially if he belongs to the amateur rather than 
the professional class — that a treatise on the use of the microscope has been 
written by the joint author of our most valuable encyclopaedia of histology. 
The student must not expect to find in this essay, information regarding the 
preparation of objects ; hut though in this respect the production is im- 
perfect, it is in other respects extremely well executed. The author treats 
lather of the structure of vegetable and animal tissues (especially the 
former), when seen under the microscope. This he has done, we think, 
with great success. Intercalated with the text are twelve page plates, 
on which are grouped nearly 400 coloured illustrations, which, if too 
highly tinted in some cases, are at least tolerably faithful representations, 
and have their natural dimensions indicated by affixed numbers showing 
the magnifying power employed. The latter we regard as a decidedly 
commendable feature of Dr. Griffith’s text-hook, and one which we hope to 
see more extensively adopted in popular works. The descriptions in the 
text are remarkably lucid, and cannot fail to convey accurate notions of 
the form and relations of minute parts. We entirely approve of the 
author’s plan for teaching the reader the correct pronunciation of technical 
terms. Long Latin names which have hitherto puzzled many a beginner, 
will under Dr. Griffith’s system be read as easily as English ones. The 
last chapter is devoted to the consideration of the optical principles involved 
in the construction and use of the microscope ; and here the subject is 
handled in such a clear and yet masterly manner, that few can read it 
without much profitable instruction. 
Forming a marked contrast to the text-book we have just noticed, is the 
little manual of Mr. Davies. The former is a work upon the structure of 
the tissues, the latter is almost exclusively devoted to the methods to be 
employed in preparing various objects for microscopic inspection. Students, 
amateurs, and men of science alike, are frequently ignorant as to the best 
mode of mounting an object in order to exhibit its structure to advantage. 
Do they require to prepare a slide, “put up” an insect, inject vessels, or make 
a section, this is the only work where they can obtain every information 
as to the means they should adopt. Most copious are the details given by 
the author of the little volume which lies upon our table. It is the book of 
books for microscopists. Every chapter is complete in itself, and is an ex- 
haustive essay on the subjects it deals with. The descriptions of the several 
forms of cement are given at length, and the respective merits of Canada 
balsam, asphaltum, marine glue, gold size, liquid glue, black japan, gum- 
water, and black and sealing-wax varnish, are described in such a manner 
* “ An Elementary Text-Book of the Microscope,” &c. By J. W. 
Griffith, M.D., F.L.S., &c. London : Van Voorst. 1864. 
“ The Preparation and Mounting of Microscopic Objects.” By Thomas 
Davies. London : Robert Hardwicke. 1864. 
