The times., 1898-02-13
WOMEN AS M1cRoscoPIsTs.
Mrs. Louise Reed Stowell's Excel
lent work in This Line.

Mrs. Louise Reed Stowell's Excel
| lent work In This Line.
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
country have gained greater distinction
| than Mrs. Louise Reed StoweIl, now OF
| this city.
| From the beginning of her career Mrs.
! Stowell has been the recipient of distin-
| guished honors from the scientific world.
| She was appointed member of the fac
ulty OF the Woodruff scientific expedi-
| ton, and was the first American wo-
man elected a member of the Royal
Microscopical Society of London: but one
since has enjoyed 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
although women are not admitted as
members. For several years she has
been president of the Northwestern Col
legiate Association, and in 1883 was sent
of women.
The name of Mrs. Stowell IS also well
known in scientific literature, as she has
for years acted both as editor and con-
tributor TO the best-known publica tions
of a purely scientific character. To her
other attainments she adds that Of be-
ing an artist in crayon, charcoal, and
pen and ink, and Illustrates heriarticles
in a manner at the same time admirably
accurate and charmngly artistic. This
is a most valuable accomplishment, as
the apparatus for photographing from
the microscope is rather elaborate and
very costly.
Mrs. Stowelfs work at the University
of Michigan lay along the lines usually
considered the dryest and most unat-
tractive in the whole realm of science,
as it was almost exclusively pharma-
ceutical in character and had to do
chiefly with the study of dried roots,
barks, and herbs. She managed how
ever, to invest even these unpromising
subjects with living vital interest, and
during this period wrote series of ar
ticles upon III microscopical structure
OF wheat and -four that drew wide
spread attention TO the brilliant quality
OF her work.
Mrs. Stoweli left the University of
Michigan to accept position In the Ag-
ricultural Department at Washington.
She was chosen for the especial purpose
OF making a microscopical examination
of wheats-frst, of the same variety
growing in different localities, and then
a comparison of the different varieties,
in order to ascertain, if possible which
contained the most gluten, and which
the greatest amount of nitrogenous
products; the aim Of the investigation
being TO find out which varieties of
wheat were best adapted to the varying
soils in the different localities of the
United States.
The kernel of wheat had first to be
soaked until it was possible to cut il
with a very sharp razor into its differ
ent sections The thin outer shell alone
is made up of some eight different parts,
any Of which is hardly to be seen by
the naked eye. This careful analysis
led TO the discovery that the infinitesi-
nal hairy tufts on the outer shell Of the
kernel contain gas. and that may be the
cause-though 1t is by no means proved
of the spontaneous combustion that oc-
casionally occurs where large quantities
of wheat are stored Mrs. StowelI fur
nishes another proof of the theory that
busy people have the most leisure, for
outside of her special lines she has seem
ed TO find time for undertakings Of no
small moment. She has, for instance,
given much serious study to church his
tory, and has delivered several courses
of lectures upon that subject at the
school for deacOnesses in Washington
She is one of the trustees of the Girls
Reform School of the District of Column