The New York herald., 1922-04-23
Chemicals, Tooth Paste and
Seeds Must Pass Minute
Inspection.
PAPER GRADES TESTED
Millions Saved to Farmers by
Study Of Pests and Better
ment of Crops.
BY CHARLES p. TITUS,
President Of New York MICROSCOPE
cal Society.


r T. Balzac were still here to continue
his delightful Human Comedy
: series there might be an alb
sorbing story written in the vein of
his "Alkahest" and Magic Skin" 1t
could we'll be entitled Beyond the
Range of Vision" and would reveal in
his inimitable style the realm of things
unseen; not invisible because too dis
tant, but only unrecognized because
OF their extreme minuteness.
In early days investigation into the
details of anatomy and anything else
pertaining to the inner workings OF
the human body were tabooed as in.
quisitive and therefore improper. Re-
search had to be carried on in secret
and discovery was likely to be fol-
lowed by punishment. Few books
were available and their contents un-
reliable and misleading.
So also the alchemist. forerunner Of
the chemist, struggling with his prob
lem Of transmitting common, metals
into gold, worked in secret and was
viewed with suspicion by the people
who carried on their humble occupa-
tions in the open.
Before the dawn of the seventeenth
century scientists and investigators
had to content themselves with what
they could see with the naked eye.
Many discoveries were made with only
gross dissection and speculative rea-
soning to guide them. In spite Of this
gifted men with prophetic vision de-
duced from what they saw theories
that later were confirmed by the in
vention and various applications Of
that marvel of usefulness, the micro
scope
At first the microscope consisted OF
n tiny disc of glass, ground convex on
both surfaces. One famous microscop-
list made many such instruments for
his own use, and mounted the lens as
described in perforated copper plates.
Each object examined was attached to
one side Of the microscope plate by
suitable holders, and when held toward
the light with eye applied to the other
side of the lens a view of the object.
greatly magnified, was obtained. Fine
details of parts OF insects were thus
studied. and as some of the early mi
croscopists were clever craftsmen ac-
curate drawings still extant prove the
efficiency of their crude apparatus
and testify to their skill as observers.
Many improvements have been made
since those days. and while one micro
scope will hardly suffice for the ex-
animation Of every substance the spec
linens nowadays are usually mounted
on slips of glass and kept in cabinets.
while the microscope is available for
the examination OF any object under
investigation.
Newer Applications of
Microscopy Everywhere
The well known uses of the instru-
ment for the diagnosis of disease
especially tuberculosis and diphther.a.
need not be mentioned here. nor need
we enlarge upon the control Of milk
and its purity guaranteed by micro
scopic analysis. Rather let us con-
slider some of the newer applications
OF microscopy in the laboratory OF
the water department. the mill, the
factory, the purchasing department cf
the big retail store: in a word. he
practical development Of this unit r
sal aid to knowledge.
A necessary adjunct to all city water
supply systems Is a well equipped lab
oratory. where microscopical exam
ination is made daily OF many sam
pies taken from various localities In
the reservoirs. Impounded water has
a way Of rapidly growing vast guam
titles of vegetable organisms. usually
harmless. but affecting the odor. taste
and appearance OF drinking water At
certain seasons tiny animalcules also
de- elop in the water, and while these,
too. are harmless to human beings
one objects to sharing his last remain
ing beverage even with the miscro-
scopic denizens of the deep.
So the microscopist makes his re-
port to the chemist in charge of the
Tster supply department. and small
quantities OF copper sulphate are put
.nto canvas. bags and dragged through
the water in the reservoirs by means
OF rowboats: the chemicals dissolve
in the water and stop the growth Of
the noxious vegetation. The quantity
OF copper being so small In compari-
son to the millions Of gallons of water.
II is never noticed. and its purpose is
t.Ius quietly and perfectly accom-
plished.
Every one has heard OF the recent
experience New York city went
through when O Little protozoan known
as Sy1ura multiplied so rapidly in the
reservoirs that the water tasted like
- infusion of cucumbers. There used
t. be n favorite cosmetic known as
cucumber cream" and many beauti.
ful complications were said TO he due TO
its use. Tho idea ~ adopting the odor
for n standard beverage did not APP
peal however. TO the metropolitan
pcpulace. and the agitation was prob
ably aggravated by the want Of a
satisfactory substitute. The trouble
had been recognized by the micro
scopists I'm the water supply depart
Ncnt and by applications OF chlorine
s1d other substances the odor and
taste soon disappeared and the Synura
itself ceased to trouble.
Materials and Fabrics Bought
After Proof by Microscope