Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1898-04-01
A WOMAN MICRosCoPIsT.
Mrs. Louise Reed stowen Has Gained
Distinction ~ "a Scientist.

Mrs. Louise Reed stoweIl Has Gained
Distinction IN IA Scientist.
1t seems strange that more women
have not turned their attention to micro
scopic work, as being peculiarly adapted
to their abilities. Among the few that
have done SO, certainly none in this
than Mrs Louise Reed Stowell now of
Washington.
From the beginning of her career Mrs.
Stowell has been the recipient of dis
tmguished honors from the scientific
world. She was appointed member of
the faculty of the Woodruff scientific
expedition, and was the first American
woman elected a member of the Royal
Microscopical society of London; but
one since has enjoyed a like honor.
On account of the great amount OF her
original microscopic work she has also
been made an honorary member OF the
Michigan Pharmaceutical association, all
though women are not admitted an
members. For several years she has
been president of the Northwestern COLI
legiate association, and in 1888 was sent
as delegate to the international congress
CT women.
The name of Mrs. Stowcll is also we'll
known in scientific literature, as she has
for years acted both as editor and con-
triputor 10 tine uesr hIivwn publications
other attachments she adds that OF be-
Ing an artist in crayon, charcoal ana
pen and INK, and illustrates her articles
in a manner at the same time admirably
accurate and charmingly artistic. This
is a most valuable accomplishment, as
the apparatus for photographlng from
the microscope is rather elaborate and
very costly.
Mrs. stowelPs work at the university
of Michigan lay along the lines usually
considered the dryest and most unat.
tractive in the whole realm of science,
a. It was almost exclusively pharma-
ceutical in character and had to DO
chiefly with the study of dried roots,
banks and herbs. She managed, how
ever, to invest even these unpromising
subjects with living, vital interest,
and during this period wrote a series or
articles upon the microscopical structure
of wheat and -four that drew wide
spread attention 20 the brilliant quality
Of her work.
z.-s. Stoweli left the University Of
Michigan to accept position in the agri-
cultural department at Washington. She
was chosen for the especial purpose OF
making a microscopical examination or
Wheats. First, of the same variety grow
ing in different localities, and then q
comparison of the different varieties, in
order to ascertain, If possible. which con-
talned the most gluten, and which the
greatest amount of Indigenous productsi
The aim of the investigation being to find
out which varieties of wheat were best
adapted to the varying soils in the differ
ent localities OF the United States.
The kernel of wheat had first to be
soaked until Il was possible to cut 1t
with very sharp razor into its different
sections. The thin outer shell alone Is
made up of some eight different parts,
any ore OF which is hardly to be seen by
the naked eye. This careful analysis led
TO the discovery that the infinitesimai
hairy tufts on the outer shell of the kerr
mel contain gas, and that may be the
cause-thoueh ii is by no means proved
of the spontaneous combustion that &C.
casionally occurs where large quantities
of wheat are stored. Mrs Stowell fur
nishes another proof of the theory that
busy people have the most leisure. for
outside of the special lines she has
seemed to find the time for undertakings
of no small moment. She has, for in
stance given much serious study to
church history. and has delivered several
courses of lectures upon that subject at
the school for deaconesses In Washing
| ton. She is one of the trustees of the
girls reform school of the District of
Columbia, to which Office she was APP
pointed by President Cleveland.
Just at present. however, she is de-
voting the largest part of her time to
| fulfilling her duties as a member of the
board of trustees of the public schools
of Washington and as chairman of the
| committee on sanitation for the public
schools of the District of Columbia. She
is also engaged in writing a botany.