Forty years ago . . . when an attempt was made to show almost any prominent American ophthalmologist a microscopic section, he would approach themicroscope with his hands behind his back, displaying no desire to change the focus of the instrument or to adjust the slide. In fact, he would approach the instrument as thoughhe feared it might bite him. You may expect me to say that conditions have now vastly changed, but I must disappoint you. American ophthalmologists sufficiently familiar withophthalmic pathology to interpret or describe a microscopic section of a diseased eye are still extremely few.