New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-19
THE MICRO-MOTOSCOPE.
1T SHOWS THE WIGGLINGs OF YOUR
BLOOD CORPUSCLES.
ONE OF TIE MODERN SYSTEMS OF DIAGNOSIS
-HECENT ADVANCES IN THE ART OF
PHOTOGRAPIuNG LIVING MICRO
SCOPIC OBJECTS.

lar scientific operation the pubic Is not ial'ii
lar enough with the process Itself to appreciate
the innovation. so rapid are the steps, small
though they be, by which most branches OF
knowledge and arts are being advanced 1t
would not be surprising therefore. If some Of the
best Uniformed readers Of The Tribune. II told
that Or. Robert L. Watkins of this city, had
lust developed something in mcro-pho-
Biography. should ask what micro photography is,
and what the medical profession have to do with
1t. A brief reply to such Interrogation would
enable one the better to understand the latest
phase Of the subject.
Physicians have for years been relying upon
a microscopic examination Of the blood for valua-
bic indications Of a patients condition. very
small fraction Of a drop. pressed fiat between
two bits Of glass is placed under the microscope.
and reveals many secrets to the eye. The expert
looks for foreign matter like evidence OF tuber-
culosis, for crystals for bac and other things
that ought not to be found in the veins of
healthy person. He then examines the tiny red
and white discs. called corpuscles. which con-
stitute a part OF The blood These small
that 800 OF them. placed edge TO edge in a row.
would make line only an inch long, that IL.
II they were the red ones The white corpuscles.
which far less numerous. trne larger.
But with a magnfying power Of 100 1000 or
1900 diameters 1t is possible to detect many
strange and Instructive things.
WHAT BLOOD CoRrUscLEs TELL
One can discover. for instance. a certain In
dentation Of the edge. which betrays fatigue. Or
there may be adherent granules. which signify
something else. Perhaps the microscopic will
perceive disease germs Qke those OF maaria)
snug1y ensconcc1 inside Of the corpusce. II the
blood cell exhibits a habby texture. still an
other Interpretation is placed the fact One
Of the most important features OF u specimen Is
the arrangement Of the corpuscles. In a healthy
person these should show proper spirit OF in
dependence. no matter how close the actual CON
tact: but In the blood Of a tubcrculous patient
they form little clusters. This tendency To stick
together in separate groups means a great deal
TO practiscd student
1t is said that such a scrutiny OF the blood as
this will AFFORD Indications OF ut least fifty diff
fereDt maladies. the list including three or four
varieties or malaria. "A larger number OF types OF
rheumatism and several kinds OF consumption.
Indeed. the last named disease now be de-
tectcd by a microscopic examination OF the blood
long before n patient begins TO cough.
But physician cannot put into his notebook
all that he sees In his microscope. A photograph
OF Specimen Therefore. properly numbered and
stored away. Is valuable record In connection
with case. long after the immediate need for
the test has passed. Specialists In this depart
ment OF investigation. therefore. have combined
camera with the microscope In such way
that they can secure permanent pictures OF this
sort. The Image which would otherwise make
only n transient impression on the human retina
Is projected into the camera As II Is desirable to
have the slide on which the blood lies remain In
horizontal position. the picture can best bc
seen from above. Hence the camera is arranged
to point downward. although In certain other
classes OF work It's axis IL horizontal. A picture
obtained in this way Is called n micro photo
graph.
Thus far no mention has been made OF the
movements OF the corpuscle while under exam
ina,ion. For several hours after being taken
from the patients veins the blood cells will be
their position slowly and very slightly. Bu, the
changes OF form. as II they were endowed with
life. They twist about into irregular shapes
very unlike the perfect disc OF their dark com
plcxioncd neighbOrs: and delicate hbres or feel
crs are extended. as II in search OF prey The
resemblance between these movements and those
OF amGba. a microscopic organism often
found IN fresh water. is striking. But after an
interval Of time. rarely exceeding n day. the leu
cocyte ceases to wiggle. and Is then considered
TO he dead.
THE WHITE CORPUSCIES ACTIVITY.
This activity Of the white corpuscles OF the
blood is more than curious 1t Is important. a
great deal more may be learned the subject
perhaps than is known now But already these
movements signify something to n limited mum