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New Zealander, Volume XXII, Issue 2452, 10 June 1865, Page 3

* IMPROVEMENTS IN MICROSCOPES. Messrs. Powell and Lealand, the eminent opticians of London, have succeeded in producing a microscopic object glass of one-fiftieth of an inch focus. The wonderful progress implied in this attainment will be readily understood by amateurs who have been accustomed to work with ~a quarter-Iddh glass. We believe it was in the year 1860, that Messrs. Powell and Lealand produced their one-twenty-fifth of an inch object glass, which was considered a marvel of accuracy and mechanical skill. But to have doubled this power in. so short a time is an achievement which even the most sanguine scarcely ventured to hope. The new glass, when used with the low eyepiece, magnifies nearly three thousand diameters, and the clearness of its defining power is everything that could be desired. When using this glass, the object must be covered with the thinnest possible glass or mica, and then there is room for focussing to the lower surface of thin specimens. It is no wonder if English physiologists are elate with the ’ hope of penetrating more deeply into the elementary processes ot vital action by means of this new instrument ot research, than they have ever yet succeeded in doing. A good test of the power of the hew glass has been found in the nerve fibres of the panilla of the frog’s tongue. At the summit of the papilla is a very intricate interlacement of nerve fibres, Which have never before been clearly displayed, being scarcely brought out by the 1-25 glass. The new power, however, enables the physiologist to trace distinctly the most delicate fibrils. It also displays in a beautiful manner the finest nerve-fibres ramifying in the cornea, or transparent membrane of the front ot the eye. It seems like wild dreaming to suggest the possibility of ever going much beyond the powers of this glass; yet we should be sorry to set a limit to the possible achievements of mechanical ingenuity.

Probably not many of our readeis are students of the microscope, but all must feel an interest in so great a step towards more efficient scientific research, and possibly there may be some lover of science who possesses both the enthusiasm and the means to introduce one of Messrs. Powell and Lealand’s 1-50 objeotglasses into New Zealand.