Evening star., 1914-07-14
THE MICROSCOPE.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

Scientists are rediscovering the worit
through the microscope. Their work O
determining its structure in the large l.
fast nearing completion. They have ex
plored every part Of its surface. and
have acquainted themselves with its ap.
parent features and with the genera
forces which animate 1t. But as yet
they have answered only an Insignificant
number of those riddles which have
stared questioning man in the face
throughout the ages. 1t may be said that
their greatest success has been in adding
to the stock of human puzzles and in
intensifying an insatiate curiosity.
Today. however. man is looking fol
progress in the winning of mastery over
details and over things in the small
Armed with the microscope the microm-
eter and other instruments for the de-
lection of matter and forces in their leas,
magnitude, he is seeking with renewed
confidence for adequate explanations.
Throughout all past chapters of the
story of mans activity-that is. SO far
as records of this story have been pre-
served-he has busted himself with VIM
ming a mastery over big things. In the
course of centuries of this effort he has
tanned fire. mastered the general prin-
steam and electricity: solved the mystery
of huoyancy Of things heavier than air.
and evolved a language, its symbols and
a printing press for its rapid and whole
sale employment a storehouse for his
Eleaninss.
Now. however, the innerInoSt secrets
Of the greater world are being sought in
its smallest particles
Small Particles particles so small as
WILL cA to be utterly non-ex-
istent to the senses.
This line of investigation has been fol-
lowed generally only a little more than
100 years. and 1t is during this time that
the wonderful modern microscope has
had its evolution.
The idea of explaining nature through
the action and structure of its least par
ticles is as old as the atomic school of
ancient Greece. if not older The idea,
however, remained a plaything for philos-
ophers and logicians until its incorpora-
tion into the groundwork scheme of
chemistry little more than century ago.
The atomic theory of chemists popular
lied minute things and invested them
with a potent significance.
Like everything else in this world
which is expected to offer final and con-
elusive evidence, the atom is extremely
elusive. 1t has been bounded and hunt
ed a hundred years in vain. Neverthe-
less, there are hosts of little things be-
sides the atom whose testimony is vital
to mans progress. In his labors for
mastery of the world in the small man
discovered the disease-causing bacteria.
Since the first of these germs passed
under the lenses Of the microscope more
progress has been made for the preser-
pa nf hum hAo oil tha
preceding centuries.
Before the days of the microscope, man
met the ravages of disease by
propitiatory offer
I1ny organisms ings to the moon
Found in Blood. ~ MIS- o W.. sr.ra -au M,
patient out of his ailment Now, the
tiny foreign organisms responsible for
the greater part of human misery are
discerned in blood drops under powerful
magnifying lens systems: are segre-
gated: cultivated and studied until there
is evolved some destroying treatment
wherewith to break their power Such
victories which man wins over the min
ute world are among his most important
triumphs.
In fact. a new science is investigating
new world. a world which has hither-
to remained imperceptible and unguessed
From the obedient and powerful current
attention is now turning to the minutiae
of electricity, and the analysis has mar
rowed down to the electron, and prols-
ably. to the subelectron. A better under
standing of energy is being sought in
this subelectron and in the impact of
the atom. which today We feel able to
duced by the discharge Of electric
particles are being studied. and from
these studies man has learned to photo
graph the hidden organs of the living
body In conjunction with the micro
scope. 1t has been found possible to
photograph with the X-ray the interior
structure of infinitesimaI. OPAQUE cells.
1t was the microscope which centered
man attention upon the little things.
He has followed the new path until the
prospect is that he will revolutionize the
conditions of his life through the knowI-
edge the little things will teach him.
He has learned to strike of the electron
from various atoms. and has arrived
at deeper understanding of the close
relationships of the elements Of his older
chemistry. The discovery of the radium
element. which has guided his attention
to these studies is probably bringing him
to an entirely new chemistry mayhap to
the mastery sought by the alchemists
through the middle ages He Is turning
for an explanation of himself to the liv-
ing cell. and is subjecting this cell to
the third degree OF scientific investi8a-
ton
He will gain a mastery over this world
In the small over its bacteria. Its com.
munity cells. its
Man Is Master primary atoms
Of Primary Atoms. o,nsr m s.s''s1ns a'amsn,e ane
Of energy. its invisible and mystic rays
and in this work ne may learn profound.
ly to modify nature to his advanta ge
In all this work the microscope will con.
unue for long time yet to be one OF
his main weapons of attack.
There is. however, a limit to which tn,