Practical microscopy / by George E. Davis.

  • Davis, George E. (George Edward), -1907.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical microscopy / by George E. Davis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/454 (page 9)
    CHAPTER II. THE MICROSCOPE STAND. we are supposed to be treating nearly exelusively of compound microscopes—that is to say, of instruments in which the amplification of an object is produced by means of a combination of lenses called an “ objective,’7 the image being further magnified by another set called an u ocular ” or u eye-piece ”—we will consider that our readers require no demonstration as to the necessity of some mechanical contrivance for holding these lenses in their correct positions. This is the office of the stand of a compound microscope, and when we notice the progress which has been made in the details of this instrument from the time the first was made for sale in England by Mr. John Marshall, we shall find that not to opticians only, properly so called, are we indebted for improvements, but to mechanicians equally. It was but of little use attempting to perfect the optical arrangements while the mechanical contrivances were imperfect, and when this was fully appreciated, real improvements were made by the mechanic and opticians working hand in hand. At the same time, we must not forget the aid which has been rendered by amateurs and microscopists with unlimited means at their disposal; it is certain that most of the early, and many even of the more recent improvements would not have been executed, except at the instance of those possessing well-lined purses and with great interest for the science.