The New York herald., 1868-11-26
TUE MICROSCOPE AND ITS REVELATIONS

Lecture by President Barnard Before the
American Institute.
Last evening President Barnard, OF Columbia Col
lege, delivered lecture 'the Microscope and its
Revelations" before the American Institute, in
Steinway Hall. There was large attendance and
throughout the lecture was frequently interrupted
with applause.
President Barnard referred to the construction
and uses OF the microscope, which he considered
presented one OF the most feicitous illustrations
known OF the ingenious application OF theoretc
principles to the production Of practical result,
and which in itself at the time one OF the
most signal trumphs OF the refined artistic skill OF
modern times in responding to the demands Of sci
ence It's perfection was sought for not as an
end but as a means. In the examination OF
structure, in the study OF form, in the OBJ
servation OF the movements and changes
continually going on in organic things we presently
arrive at point at which further progress Is ar
rested by the mperfecti0n Of our powers More than
this. While thus seeking to know something OF the
minute organization OF bodies large enough to be
seen and examined in mass without difficulty, we
make the new discovery that there exist many OBJ
Iects OF high order OF interest which in their fully
developed proportions never attain 0 magnitude suf
ncient to betray even their existence TO ordinary
vision, and OF which, without artificial helps, we
could never know anything at all. II Is becoming
every day and more clear that the causes OF oil
minute and widely scattered organisms, which TO
ordinary observation are totally fmperceptlble This
just as true Of the diseases OF plants as Of those
OF animals. The potato rot, the cotton rust the
smut OF wheat and the wasting Of the vine were just
certainly the product OF microscopic fungi az the
rinderpest, the epidemic among silk worms or the
cholera among men, To the study OF objects OF this
kind the microscope was absolutely Indispensable
b Ssne tbe os
dinused referred TO the marvels OF minute organic
life which 1t disclosed The brachtoned for instance
fhn arfv nj lnsa tnJ
shells. or this animal more than one million ind-
viduaS could he easily packed In the space of cubic
inch; and OF the genera Sdlpina, Eucndnfs. Mono.
stpid and others, all having elegantly sculptured
scious shells there were some Of which at least ten
millions to twenty millions could hnd room In cubic
inch ofspace. Having given lucid explanation Of
the various forms OF minute animal and vegetable
IT, the lecturer cited numerous instances wherein the
microscope furnished the means Of discover
ing the chemical nature OF substances when
In quantity too small to be treated by or
dinary methods OF analysis; as 1t also sue
ceeded in detecting the sdulteration OF drugs
groceries and other articles OF daily commerce. The
microscopic study Of the elementary tissues OF the
higher order OF animals had also grown along with
nan endess VARIETY Of SeS ana q suc can
stant association OF each variety with particular
natural group that In the vertebrated series II was
almost invariably impossible by the examination OF
the mlnutest fragment OF bone, for instance to pro-
nounce with confidence as TO the natural family to
whicn 1t had belonged. After fully datng upon
the value and Importance OF the microscope az a
4
means OF scientific investigation, the lecturer pro-
ceeded explain with Illustrative diagrams the con-
struction Of the instrument and the principles upon
which its usefulness depended. The illustrations
| were remarkably fine aud elected loud tokens
| OF appreciation. The lecturer concluded q
| highly interesting discourse, lasting over two
4 hours and a hail. by observing that he
| had thus presented description OF what
might perhaps, be justly regarded the most ele-
| CANT OF the instruments which modern science had
created to aid its Investigations and had placed be-
/ fore the audience some examples illustrative OF the
| wonders which this powerful instrument had been
4 the means OF unveing to human sight. The last
were numerous so varied, 80 marvellous In their
/ forms and movements aud habits, that he knew no
study OF which the tendency Is more Improving, re-
| fininr aud eevatg than that wirch the microscope
offered IN the world OF the infinitely minute There
/ was no study which drew the mind more constantly
/ and more irresstiby TO the contemplation OF that
wondrous creative power which manifested Itself no
1 less marveously IN the tnest monad than In the
1 great beasts Of the forest or the monsters OF the
4 deep or OF that comprehensive benevoience which
provides alike for the wants OF all, from the least
/ even 10 the greatest. surveying this vast field o
/ varied life, Il lnconceivable how such thing as
1 an atheist could be. The whole spirit which the
| study inspired was spirit OF alteration and faith
which ycarned continually to express itself In Ian
\ ono ua M Thanksgiving and praige. lApplause.l