_The Achromatic Condenser_ can no longer be classed among the _accessories_ of the microscope, since it is an absolutely indispensable part of its optical arrangements. Its value, then, cannot be overrated, and the corrections of the lenses which enter into the construction of the condenser should be made as perfect as they can be made--in fact, as nearly approaching that of the objective as it is possible to make them. It may therefore be of interest to know something of the rise and progress of the achromatic condenser. In my first chapter I have noticed the earlier attempts made by Dr. Wollaston, whose experiments led him to fit to the underside of the stage of his microscope a short tube, in which a plano-convex lens of about three-quarters of an inch focal length was made to slide up and down (afterwards moved up and down by two knobs); to improve definition he placed a stop between the mirror and the lens. The stop was found to act better when placed between the lens and the object. From this improvement Dr. Wollaston enunciated that “the intensity of illumination will depend upon the diameter of the illuminating lens and the proportion of the image to the perforation, and may be regulated according to the wish of the observer.” Dujardin in France and Tully in England were at work in the same direction. The former a year or two later on contrived an instrument, which he termed an _eclairage_, to remedy the defects of Wollaston’s, and for illuminating objects with achromatic light. This was submitted for approval to Sir David Brewster, who, when the use of the achromatic condenser was first broached, used these encouraging words:--“I have no hesitation in saying that the apparatus for illumination requires to be as perfect as the apparatus for vision, and on this account I would recommend that the illuminating lens should be perfectly free from chromatic and spherical aberration, and that the greatest care be taken to exclude all extraneous light both from the object and eye of the observer.” This far-seeing observer in optical science has borne good fruit, and the outcome of his views is seen in the great development and improvement of the achromatic condenser. In 1839 Andrew Ross made his first useful form of condenser, and gave rules for the illumination of objects in an article written for the “Penny Cyclopædia.” These, epitomised, read as follows: 1. That the illuminating cone should equal the aperture of the objective, and no more. 2. With daylight, a white cloud being in focus, the object has to be placed nearly at the apex of the cone. The object is seen better sometimes above and sometimes below the apex of the cone. 3. With lamplight a bull’s-eye lens is to be used, to parallelise the rays, so that they may be similar to those coming from the white cloud. It has been seen that Mr. Lister foreshadowed the sub-stage condenser.