National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-15
NATURAL HISTORY COURSE.
DR.. Morris Lecture on the Microscope.

DR.. Norris Lecture on the Microscope.
Dr.. Morris lecture drew q large audience to
Memorial church last night where he discoursed
at length upon the microscope and its revelations
He began by briefly giving history Of the in
strument and its improvements in this country
and in Europe. While he conceded the present
supreme excellence OF the European article, yet
he claimed that our own artisans were rapidly
overtakiDg foreigners. He highly recommended
the instrument, even in q cheap form, to parents
for the entertainment and instruction Of their chill
dren, being assured that 1t would beget q taste
for further research and 1--we of natural history.
The Doctor, however, said that 1t was not bis de-
sign to describe the instrument ITSELF but to ex-
hibit its wonderful discoveries He specified num-
Der Of natural phenomena developed by the mi
croscope, which never would have become known
to the world but by its aid. The objects he Sc
lected for this demonstration, among the hun
dreds which he said might be stated, were taken
FIRST from the vegetable world.
He spoke somewhat at large Of the infinite
number of air cells and other arrangements for
the breathing Of plants, and exhibited drawings
Of the mold which is found on old cheese and
other articles of food, as we'll as on gentlemens
boots when exposed in q humid place. He showed
that this mold was composed Of perfect cryp-
tOgamous plants, and amused his hearers by show
ing perfect drawings of some of them, some Of his
hearers never having known before that they
were raising flowers on these objects. Various
otherVegetable substances underwent microscopic
investigation, and the results were fully ex-
planned. But the animal world received most at
tentiOn. and here the lecturer had most extern
upon the researches of the most distinguished
microscopists, and said something Of their pub
lished works.
He had very creditable representations Of nu-
merCus specimens of the intnitesimally small
animalcuies suspended on the platform, upon
many OF which he spoke with familiarity Of
knowledge that showed he knew what he was
talking about. He related some wonderful
stories about their size, numbers, colors, move
ments, mode of propagation, and infinite facility
and rapidity of DISQUALIFICATION. He showed
that some species of animalcule are found every
wherein every substance, in every article Of
food, even in the tartar of the teeth, however
careful a person may be in cleaning them.
He then gave some illustrations Of that famil-
lar object, the dust on the wings of butterflies,
and showed its different forms, sizes and positions
on the wings, as we'll its uses. After expatiat-
ing upon these animal ininitesimals, he spoke OF
those in the mineral kingdom, and illustrated his
position by specimens of the Richmond, Billn and
other clays, and maintained as one Of the grand
results Of microscopic science that many Of our
rock formations were nothing more than the fos-
silized remains of these UNNECESSARILY minute
creations. The lecturer clearly demonstrated how
this occurred. The next lecture of the course
will be delivered next kriday-sabject, animal