404 
self, not only to minute anatomy, but also to minute zoology 
and botany — in fact, to microscopical science. It is the in- 
strument which has directed the course of these men’s study, 
Avhich has charmed them, and led them on from field to 
field, which has made them pathologists, anatomists, zoolo- 
gists, and botanists at the same time. Is not then this great 
power — the microscope — a fair standard to have raised ? We 
feel sure that now, as heretofore, microscopical science has its 
ever increasing army of enthusiasts, and that to a large body 
of educated men the chronicle of the daily conquests made 
through the microscope, whether belonging strictly to this 
or that domain of knowledge, must have a true and deep 
interest. 
Microscopical science assuredly includes many subjects 
which require that some attempts at grouping them should 
be made, and we offer the following as a useful division : 
a. Subject-matters. 
1. Histology — Animal, vegetal, and mineral. 
2. Embryology — Animal and vegetal. 
3. Microzoology, microphytology, micromineralogy. 
4. Cell-diagnosis and minute characteristics of plants, 
animals, and minerals. 
b. Forensic and technical applications. 
c. The instrument. 
1. Essential apparatus. 
2. Accessory apparatus. 
Histology — as it is generally understood. — Human histo- 
logy is undoubtedly the most important department of 
Microscopical science, from a practical point of view. Great 
results have been achieved already, and still greater are to be 
looked for. Long and patient as have been the observations 
of both foreign and British workers there is still much con- 
fusion, much contradiction, much ignorance to be accounted 
for and corrected, in the results announced from various 
sources. Form has been studied to the neglect of substance, 
and it is from the prosecution of chemical researches on the 
tissues, aided by the microscope, that we may hope for the 
most important additions to knowledge. The nature of the 
cell, the existence of contractile vacuoles and canals, declared 
by Balbiani to be present in some cells, the simpler structure 
of others, the existence of structureless protoplasm in the 
human body, the physical properties and origin of cells, re- 
quire renewed investigation and the application of improved 
methods of research. The action of cells in relation to the 
