New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-04
PHOTO-MICROGRAPHY.
ITS LEGAL AND SCIENTIFIC USES.
THE MOST DIFFICULT AND DELICATE OF PHOTO
GRAPHIC oPERATIoNs-BAcTERIA

THE MOST DIFFICULT AND DELICATE OF PHOTO.
GRAPHIC oPERATIoNs-BAcrERIA
IN VARIOUS FORMS.
The microscope opens the way to newly discoveries
worlds, a knowledge OF whose inhabitants, al yet but
little understood has been and Is one Of the greatest
boons to humanity. The subject is one OF interest
to every one not buried In deepening rut OF per
sonal affairs, and these microscopic beauties and
tiny organisms that make or mar the world, Shouts
be more generally understood. The stalk OF flower
hides unlmagned lovelness, there Is history In
drop of blood, and the smallest germ may be the
seed Of death to thousands, only an insignncant
member of the fraternity Of water flora.
To those who have not the time to devote 10 pr
sonal research, the steps In like benefcent
spirit, and upon its sensitive plate are imprinted out
lines small TO be almost imperceptible TO the
eye when examined through the microscope This Ii
microgaphy. 1t is often COMPOUNDED with micro
photography, which is the art OF making minute
photographs OF larger objects Micro photographs OF
the Lords Prayer frequently seen In tiny charms,
and in times Of war besieged cities have made use
Of this branch Of photography TO condense messages
to be sent to outside friends.
Photo mIcrography is one Of the highest forms Of
photography, requiring keen judgment and skilled
workmanship. The was first used in con.
nection with the microscope in Europe but the work
done was Of a very inferior quality and 1t was not
until Colonel J. J. Woodward, Of the United States
Army brought the art very near state Of perfection
that 1t attained a recognized standing. successful
work involves a thorough knowledge Of the micro
scope and its cement with equal knowledge Of
photography and how properly to combine the two.
The Oldest and one Of the best methods was that
of Colonel Woodward who made Of dark room
as his Through a small opening In the win
dow-shutter q beam Of light admitted and thrown
in direction by Of a helostat outside. The
microscope was placed in the proper position and the
object to be photographed was put upon stage before
1t. short distance back Of the microscope was a
frame upon which rested the ground glass focusing
J screen upon which the image Of the object pro-
jected After being carefully focused the screen was
removed and the platc-holder adjusted the Frame
tho exposure mado and the image developed In the
usual way. Many operators prefer to ordinary
camera In connection with the microscope thus hav
Ing the advantage Of working In light room.
camera IS, OF course, q necessity in employing art-
fetal light In this the microscope is first
placed on the table and the object focused; the
camera Is then adjusted and the object refocused be-
fore exposing the plate.
After the image is projected upon the screen the
remainder OF the work, which is chiefly mechanical.
can be completed by a professional photographer
desired professional photographer could. In q
very short time, take up low power photo micro
graphical work and produce excellent results. but he
would be obliged to make a special study OF the micro
scope for an amplfcaton OF from 500 to 1000
| diameters Particular attention must be given 10
the illumination, the quality and power OF the lens
employed the mechanism and seadiness Of the stand,
correctness OF the eyepiece If one is used. and the
convenences connected with the camera for faciitat
Ing the work. The source of illumination may be
direct sunlight, kept in place by the heliostat az
used by Colonel WOODWARD the electric or In
candescent light Of proper construction may be en-
ployed. The calcium light may be used and ex.
cellent results have been obtained with the still more
t,Par dfup, ~ Ordi kor0c
In all other branches Of Photographic work, the ap-
paratus Is not Of the first importance II the operator
is siful enough to take the best advantage Of the
means at his disposal.
In legal work photomicrography is sometimes en-
ployed demonstrate the existence Of poisons In the
blood of and animals to show the false lines In
a forged document the existence Of foreign SUBJ
stances In aduterated food 1eweller was recently
convicted In France upon evidence of this kind He
was accused by the Government Of having PLACED q
false hallmark upon his goods. Photo-mcrographs
were made Of the Government stamp and OF the con-
demncd copy. The spirited design OF tho former
COMP I'd with the clumsy outlines Of the latter as
shown sn the magnfed reproduction, was inconvert-
BILE evidence and the was unhestaungly pro-
nounced guilty. Lanternslides have been used In
the courtroom the outlines OF the subjects Of the
microsccpical Investigation being thrown upon the
wall but this is manfestly nconvenient, and regu-
lar Photographic prints are much more Satisfactory
found invaluable for securing exact representations OF
mcroscopical objects for book illustrations. ana Tor
the use Of tho demonsrator In the ectureroom From
the Importance Of the science this art has been no
where OF more importance than In medicine and In
that branch OF medicine known as bacterioogy. An
immense step been made in the last few years In
the discovery and classification OF these minute organ
isms and the work be done in the future will be
in tho same direction 1t Is known now that only
small propopion Of the bacteria disease germs,
and that the remainder helpful little workers to
be found everywhere In earth, air and water feeding
on vegetable and animal waste. and at the same time
resolving Il into simpler compounds to be absorbed
AMIN by the higher members Of the vegetable king
dom.
Bacteria are regarded not, as was at hrst sug'
p.sted as diminutve insects worms, but a. the
lowest form Of vegetable life. To study these little
cells under the name Of ice water fora is pleasant
one might even speak Of the cholera and typhoia
fora and thus the poisonous germs lose haI tneir
and be studied by the people In the
calm light OF common II this were generally
done there would DO fewer OF them In existence for
the student to observe. Bad drainage may prepare
,bo system TO succumb the typhoid germ. but 1t Is
NOT possible TO produce the disease without the
nresenco Of y living member OF the typhoid bacteria
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