The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
American Microscopy.

To the Editor OF the indianapolis journal
The ninth annual meeting of the American
Society Of Microscopists will be held at Chautau-
qua, N. Y, commencing on Aug 10, and is to
continue four days. This is the week preceding
the meeting of the American ASSOCIATION for the
Advancement of Science, at Buffalo, n. Y. and
is. therefore, convenient in time and place for
those who wish to attend both conventions.
Indiana may well take pride in this society as
it is child of Hoosierdom. though now national
in its scope of progress. 1t is the outgrowth of
the Indianapolis Lyceum Of Natural history, in
which biology and, of course, microscopy were
the leading features This society issued call
in May, 1873 to all American microscopists for
meeting on Aug IA, 1878. The society was
organized, Drs. w. w. Butterfield, Henry
Jameson, p. G.. 9. Hunt, Merritt Wells, o.
Everts being charter members from Indian
apolis.
Meetings have since been held at Buffalo, Ell
mira. N. Y, Columbus, o.. Rochester, N. Y,
Chicago and Cleveland. The foremost biologists
and microscopes are members and contributors,
and over 1000 pages of proceedings have been
issued. The society has quite outgrown the city
of its origin and has completely absorbed the
local society, otherwise it would be very desir-
able to have the tenth meeting, 1887, held at In
dianapolis. A leading feature OF the Chautau-
qua meeting viii be the working section under
the direction of E. II. Griffith, a veteran worker
and an inventor in various lines of microscopic
mechanisms. An entire day will be given to the
methods of work and of microscopial research.
Wednesday evening will be devoted exclusively
to photography, in its application TO microscopy,
nnder the direction of Hon. j. d. Cox. of Ohio,
president of the University of Cincinnati,
and W. III. Walmsley, of Philadelphia,
the leaders of this department in the
United States. Upon Thursday afternoon, Aug.
IL. Prof G. Fl. Stowell of Michigan University,
will illustrate special methods of pathological
investigation, and Prot. Louisa f. Stowell, OF
the same university. will give practical iiustra-
tons of the best methods of detecting food adul-
terations. s. d. Mouser M. d.. president of the
San Francisco society; L4ucian Howe, NJ d., of
Buffalo, will cultivate bacteria, and show where
aud how to find them and preserve them for
study Prof. A. I. Moore, of Cleveland, o., will
show the effect of aperture on detectives. c..
M. Vorce, of Cleveland, will illustrate the
use of the instrument in detecting counterfeit
hand writing and like matters of interest to the
legal profession. Profs. d. S. Kelcott, of Buff
falo, and Z. B. Stowell. of Cortland. N. Y, will
conduct dredging expedition on Chautauqua
Lake, Wednesday afternoon, Aug. IL. All de-
paftmentS OF microscopic technique will be fully
illustrated. The society has now three hundred
and twenty-five members of which fifteen are
from Indiana.
The greater portion of the members are prac-
ticing hysicians, and next in number come the
college teachers. Indiana might we'll afford a
State society of biologists and microscopes; the
Indiana Academy of Natural History will proba-
bly, form such department in time. Our State
colleges are rapidly supplying their students
with biological laboratories, each equipped with
a score or more of the best modern instruments
for class work. Wabash took the lead in this
work under Professor Coulter: Purdue fol-
lowed, under Professor Barnes; Earlham, under
Professor Dennis, and De PAW will have a
frst-class laboratory under Professor jenkins.
The use of the microscope in zoology, botany,
and particularly in medicine, is rapidly increas-
ing There are probably from seventy five to
one hundred new instruments purchased an
nually in Indiana, and nearly all of them the
work Of American makers, who make as good
optical parts as the best, and whose stands are
conceded to be the most elegant and perfect In
the world. A. w. BRAYToN M. D.