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68 METHODS OF SOCfAL REFORM
Each chemical or physical research needs its own peculiar
apparatus, which ought to be sufficiently described, if successful ,
in the scientific record OE the experiments. Were all the apparatus
used to bo treasnred up at South Kensington, it could
only produce additionnl bewiIderment in those whose brains
have been already scattered by the educational and other
numerous collections of that locality. As to the principal in-
Rtruments, such as microscopes, telescopes, dividing engines,
cathetometers, thermometers, hygrometers, anomometers, and
the like, they undergo such frequent modification and improvement,
that tho best forms would never be sought in a Museum,
but in tho shops of tho principal manufacturers. No doubt,
however, thore nre a few standard instruments employed in
rescarclws of especial importance which it would bo well to
preserve for ever.
The same considerations hardly apply to tho Pnrkes Museum
of Hygiene now open to the inspection of the public during
certain hours at University College, London. This may be
regarded as the collection of samples of a most important
kind of sanitary Institute, To allow such a Museum to grow
to any great bulk, and to preserve all the obsolete forms of
syphon traps, sinks and what not, wocld surely defeat its own
purposes.
It iR an interesting sign of the times that the holding of
industrial exhibitions has of late years become itself a profitsblo
branch of industry. Some years since the proprietors of
tho Pornona Gardens, o place of popular entertainment at
Nanchostcr, built a large exhibition hdl and opened an exhibition
of machinery, which quite eclipsed that shortly before
brought togother by a more public body. In the last few
yews tho Agricultural Hall at Islington has been a scene of
industrial exhibitions of a very interesting character, which,
it is to be hoped, will dispel for ever the disgusting walking
feah formerly carried on there. Each exhibition indeed is
somewhat limited in extent, but it is quite as large and
eous as a visitor can inspect during an afternoon, and the
latest novelties of invention, but a few weeksold, may often be
seen there.