The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04
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'He SME gSS9sRSE1AG 81 IAS' ILL
Dr. Kmer Overcomes Limitations in Photography Which
Heretofore Have Made True Records Impossible in
Observation of Changes in Human Getup

DocToR THERON W. KHNiER
OF this city has developed for
tho medical fraternity and
others interested in our physical fit
ness, Photographic method Of max
ing records Of the external appearance
Of the body which may prove Of con-
sp!cuous value. He calls his system
mensurgraphing, and tho outstanding
virtue OF his invention Is accuracy.
II is an old saying that the camera
does not lie. that it does its work
without bias and with instrumental
precision. But everyone at all familiar
with photography knows that this Is
q dlscred!ted fallacy. The lens not
only distorts, but It fails to reproduce
with faithfulness according to the po-
sition OF the light the angle of the
view, and the nicely with which the
focusing is done. \ difference in dis
lance of inches. yes, fractions OF
inches, may make a material qualih-
cation in the matter OF dimensions of
various parts Of a pictured subject.
To some extent We have accepted
these weaknesses of the camera in
portraiture work, and have assumed
that they were inherent to the art.
Therefore, photography as applied to
physiology has, as a rule, been rec
ognized more for its essentially
graphic value than for its reliance as
guide to correct dimensions. All the
while the physician, the physical Gull
tur!sts and students Of physiognomy
have wished for some rapid and easy
way OF picturing the human getup
with proportional fidelity. DR.. Kill
mer has successfully met this long
felt want
For years photography has been a
source of absorbing interest to him
in his leisure hours he says. "a hobby"
and out of this intimacy has come a
perfect understanding Of the full pos
sibilties as we'll as the limitations OF
the camera. To-day he offers the
world the fruit Of this familiarity; and
by clever scheming he has made the
lens meet the very nice requirements
OF his professional needs. He Is now.
able TO take a series Of pictures over
any desired period Of observation and
TO obtain thereby a Photographic Sc
quence which will reveal faithfully
any change. large or small, which may
have occurred in the outward appear
ance Of his subject during the interval
in question. These records are OF such
a tell-tale nature that they can Dc
correctly evaluated by any qualined
person.
Most of US have looked upon q
physical examination mainly as a po-
tential revelation of more or less dis
ouieting weaknesses. AS matter OF
fact. examinations OF this sort should
be the very best aids to leading us into
the ways OF physical soundness by de-
tecting at the outset the least tendency
10 drop below the standard OF bodily
fitness. And probably there are no Pc
RODS in human life that are more
critical than those Of childhood ana
the years OF so-called decline OF yigor.
These phases OF our existence, like
others, register themselves externally,
and the trained eye can give these
records their due weight II properly
helped in a graphic manner.
Achieving Precision.
This only trouble up to now has been
lack Of sequences of pictures taken at
different times under Identical condi-
tons which would afford the necessary
bases for accurate comparison. a
slightly different position on the part
OF the subject or the camera. a mod
crate variation in distance between the
lens and the person under study. the
strength and the direction Of the light.
&C., would introduce Whaling factors
that would disqualify succeeding prints
as true evidences OF physical DIVERSE
ues. How has DIR. Kilmer overcome
these handicaps to precision.
To begin with, his photographs are
the result OF instantaneous exposures.
and TO insure satisfactory light OF
uniform intensity he employs power
tll mercury vapor arc lamp. In this
w.. his pictures can be taken at any
time ana the degree OF illumination re-