PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
845 
The List of Donations (exclusive of exchanges and reprints) received 
since the last meeting was submitted, and the thanks of the Society 
given to the donors. 
From 
Carpenter, W. B., The Microscope and its Revtdations. Seventh 
edition, pp. xviii. and 1099, 21 pis., text illust. (8vo, 
London, 1891) Dr. W. H. Dallinger. 
Gage, S. H., The Microscope and Histology. Part i., third 
edition. (8vo, Ithaca, N.Y., U.S.A., 1891) The Author. 
Prof. Bell called special attention to a book which he felt sure all 
would be glad to see, but which at first sight they would probably fail 
to recognize even if they looked inside it. This was a copy of the 
seventh edition of * The Microscope and its Revelations.’ They would 
find on examination that, although Dr. Carpenter’s text had been pre- 
served so far as his own special work was concerned, there was much at 
the beginning of the book which was new, which in fact Dr. Carpenter 
did not know, for the reason that many of the matters treated of had not 
been brought to a conclusion at the time the previous editions of the 
work were published ; so that in the present edition it would be found 
that the first seven chapters were practically new, containing as they did 
the results of Dr. Dallinger’s researches, and also a succinct and perfect 
account of the work of Prof. Abbe in connection with his theory of 
microscopical vision. Dr. Dallinger was rather inclined to undervalue 
his own powers, and had therefore asked Dr. Abbe to write that portion 
of the book, but — he was going to say fortunately for them — the state 
of Dr. Abbe’s health prevented him from undertaking this task, so that 
Dr. Dallinger had himself taken it in hand, with a success which had 
called forth the approval of Dr. Abbe in terms which Dr. Dallinger 
spoke of as being more than generous. Of course it would be of great 
value to have Dr. Abbe’s views put before them in a lucid manner which 
all would be able to understand, and on this ground alone Dr. Dallinger 
had done them a great service ; but the book was also improved in 
many ways besides, and it would be found to contain an enormous 
number of new pictures in illustration. What, however, struck him 
more than anything else was the last part of the preface, which read as 
follows : — 
“ There certainly never was a time when the Microscope was so 
generally used as it now is. With many, as already stated, it is simply 
an instrument employed for elegant and instructive relaxation and 
amusement. For this there can be nothing but commendation, but it is 
desirable that even this end should be sought intelligently. The social 
influence of the Microscope as an instrument employed for recreation 
and pleasure will be greater in proportion as a knowledge of the general 
principles on which the instrument is constructed are known, and as the 
principles of visual interpretation are understood. The interests of 
these have been especially considered in the following pages, but such 
an employment of the Microscope, if intelligently pursued, often leads 
to more or less steady endeavour on the part of amateurs to understand 
the instrument and use it to a purpose in some special work, however 
modest. This is the reason of the great increase of Clubs and Societies 
