The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-21
A H00SIER BABE.
But One that Has Grown to National Dimen-
siOnS-The CLASSIFIED Men of Science.


fathered in Indianapolis, and is the leg itimate
progeny of the now defunct Lyceum Of Natural
History, which was organized under the care and
patronage of Drs. D. S. Jordan, Orpheus Everts,
W. W. Butterfeld P. G. C. Hunt Henry Jane
son, Merritt Wells, A. w Brayton, GeologIst
Cox, Chemist Levette, Prof. J. B. Roberts,
Ebenezer Sharp and others who were charter
members OF the Microscopic Association; also
John Hussey, of Lafayette, and Judge Redding,
of New Castle During the year 1877 the lyceum
addressed circular letter to various microscopic
societies throughout the country advising a
national convention, and this meeting general
favor, the Indianapolis society issued call in
May, 1873, inviting all microscopes of the
United States to meet in indianapolis on Aug.
IA, 1873
DIR. Jameson was temporary chairman. DIR.
Everts made a highsoundIng address, showing
that the moral aud intellectual manifestations
of the race correspond to the development of
science and except by such as may
regard Parson Jasper, of Virginia
(the geocentric believing eolored preach
err, better exponent of religious truth
than Joseph Cook of Boston, it is conceded that
this pari passu development is more than a mere
coincidence" But at the present day scientists
and theologues would as soon think of making
Jasper their representative as Cook At that
meeting important papers were read by Prot.
w. A. Rogers, of Harvard College, by Bulloch
of Chicago, c. NJ. Varce the present president,
of Cleveland, DR. r. H. Ward, r. Hitchcock, w.
H. Walmsley, Prof. J. e. Smith, all eminent
leaders in either optics or the use of the micro
scope. On the fourth day tie convention adj
journed to meet at Buffalo the next year, with
doubled membership, and more heavy papers
and new appliances for making the less appear
the greater, and to prove that ''All the forms re-
semble yet none is the same as another Thus
the whole of the throng points at q deep hidden
law" All nature widening upward and rejecting
in the human eye. mind and thought. The Gus
tom inaugurated at INDIANAPOLIS of giving a
'microscOpcal sOiree"-a cellular and molecular
conversational continued, and has be-
come a standard and popular feature of the an
nual meeting. The main practical paper was
addressed to one of the vices of the race and was
on the detection of forgery and alterations of
handwriting.
The progress in microscopy in the United
States since the impetus given by the Indian
apolls meeting has been immense. and only
eQualed or exceed. perhaps. by the achieve
ment of electrical engineering. The great ad-
vances have been in making frst-class detectives,
oculars, stands and illuminating apparatus, as
well as improvements in cutting thin sections Of
tissues, and staining them in different colors so
AS to dltferentiate cellular structures. The
manufactures have been increased in number
and the apparatus made cheaper in price, until
now the microscopes of American makers are not
excelled for cheapness, ingenuity, optical and
mechanical excellence by any in the world. One
hundred dollars will to day buy better outfit
than double the money at the Indianapolis meet
ing For fifty dollars instruments magnfving
from fifty to four hundred diameters can be had,
and sufficient to DO all that is required in the
ordinary practice of Ir"8icine or medical juris-
prudence, and good enough to carry on re-
searches in animal and vegetable histology or
even In the protean-headed and evasive field of
modern bacterioogy. Professor Coulter uses
score of compound microscopes in his Wabash
College laboratory; Professor Barnes the same at
Purdue; each student has one in 'busincss"
laboratories. Many physicians use them
daily in practice to determine the con.
dition of the kidneys, to hunt for gall stones
to determine the nature of tunors and even en-
tire cross sections of the human brain, as thin
as the most delicate tissue paper, are cut and
stained, so that the cellular condition may be
known. The recent researches as to the germ
theory OF disease have taxed the highest powers
of the best instruments, and engaged the atten-
ton OF the foremost biologists and pathOlocsts
of the present time. Toxicology and mineralogy
have benefited greatly by the use of the micro
is rapidly becoming means OF research by
thousands of people, and in an infinity of sub
Jects. This answers the question in part,
what good"
The American assembly constantly tends to
the study of more practical questions To-day
Professor Burrill, of Illinois, was discussing
blackberry and wheat rust, with suggestions as
to prevention; DIR. H. j. Ditmers, of Cham
palgn, HI, is discussing the causes of dried
beef poison, while Dr. Thomas Taylor of the
Agricultural DenartmaDt iC ba
can tell adulterated butter from pure butter, in
every case. by the difference in the crystals Of
the fats in butter. beef tallow and lard. Seventy
hucksters about Washington were in the habit
or buying "oleo taking 1t home to the country,
sophisticating it with good butter doing it up in
country style and selling it for double the price
of 'oleo.' They were detected by the glass, and
1t was stated that every city health officer should
be familiar with this way. A committee was ap-
pointed to further investigate it,
Meetings have been held at Columbus Buffalo
Elmlra and Chicago; the next meeting will
probably go to Detroit st. Louis. The annual
proceedings amount to several hundred pages,
and are of the most profound matters of optics
and general microscopy. Among the notables at
the present meeting are two Sroups--the instru-
ment-makers, or glass and brass men," and the
investigators in science. Most notable of the
makers of detectives is Charles Spencer of
Geneva, n. Y, whose father led the world in
making both telescopes and microscopes up to
the time of his death Young Spencer carries on
the work, andis not behind his Their also Edward
Bausch. of Bausch q Lamb Optical Company,
Rochester, who employs and directs fifty five men
daily in making the detectives and stands
Ernst Gundlach, one of the most famous of
European makers but of New York, reads
paper. But the great lights of this science
Robert Sails, of Boston, who died in the city
hospital in sight of Harvard College laboratories
where his glasses were ignored for foreign make,
and Spencer, the elder, are gone.
Prof. Gage, of Cornell University, Prof
Stowell, of Ann Arbor, Prof II. L. Smith are
among the authors and workers of note f. H.
Griffith, who has made the compaetest and most
generally useful stand known is on hand; Also
BulIoch of Chicago, formerly with Wales, of
England. Gen J. d. Cox, soldier statesman.
college president and scientist, of Cincinnati is
present, as always. Then there are many
amateurs and notwithstanding them DR.. f.
S Newcomer, of our city, whose standing joke
is: Let others die where they please; [ will