This is a review of the publications in chemical microscopy from January 1984 through December 1985, primarily as documented in Chemical Abstracts. The review stresses advances in microscopical techniques, primarily using the polarized light microscope, and in instrumentation related to present or potential analytical methods. As in previous reviews, certain topics are excluded: for example, virtually all publications concerning transmission electron microscopy or scanning electron microscopy are omitted, as are publications of a more theoretical nature.