The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-28
Delicate Experiments Recorded by the
Camera and Duplicated for Class
rooms How the Carrel -Dakin
Treatment Was Filmed and How
Cinema Saved Our Wounded
Boys Arms and Legs
By CHARLES F. HERM,

By CHARLES r. HENm'
American Museum of Natural
History.
- VERY modern text book OF hi
ology has to consider to GER
~ tain extent the many subjects
prtaining to biology. in order to
DO Justice TO the phenomena under
constant investigation. Yet many Of
the subjects belong to field OF OBJ
servation inaccessible TO the average
reader or student, since It can only be
approached by means Of refined biolog-
ical technics applied to special objects
not ordinarily available for practical
study or demonstration. A knowledge
Of such subjects will have to be ac-
quired, in most cases, from text books
In which drawings or still pictures are
made to take the place OF a real OBJ
iect But no drawing or still picture,
however excellent, can convey an ac-
curate mental picture Of the living
object. It is extremely difficult to rep
resent even in a carefully preserved
specimen the exact appearance Of the
real object. F1xation and staining
more or less distort their true pro-
portions This is avoided by the mo-
don picture camera, which gives an
absolutely faithful representation of
what appears under the microscope or
before its lens. We receive a true
portrayal, a picture nearest to ma
tUe
There is not a scientific, Industrial
or social field where the motion pic
ture camera has not been tried. proved
and accepted. The biological field,
however. unfortunately, has. been
somewhat neglected, for the number
@ true biological Aims in existence can
b counted on the fingers Of one hand.
And Just as IN biology, the natural
sciences. physiology, clinical pathology,
practical hygiene and sanitation,
mere Is an excellent opportunity for
Tie motion picture camera The scien-
DIST has to admit that hardly anything
nas been done for cinematographic
representation along these lines. Nu-
merous archaeological subjects have
been released, but practically none is
done so accurately as to commend the
approval Of the expert Wonderful
nlms, for instance. have been made Of
the lower organisms. They have been
displayed successfully in theatres.
But II the same subjects had been
treated by specialists in their field OF
work the educational value would
nave been greatly improved without
diminishing in any way the interest OF
The general public
Films OF such an order certainly
would create a sensation among the
teaching profession and be recognized
Is valuable adjunct to real educa-
uonal purposes. They could be ar
ranged 80 logically, so clearly and so
nee from puzzles. that instead OF
spending long hours in tedious study
over his subject, the scholar would
value.
Films Diminish Vivtsection.
Films OF such an order are not DIM
cut TO produce II done by the right
men; men who are well acquainted
With the various branches Of science;
men who can devise interesting and
original experiments to suit any stage
Oh knowledge. and vary experiments
. as to bring the scholar face to face
WITH something that never has been
Illustrated by diagrams In a text book
men who can lead the pupil on steI
oy step and are able to plunge deeply
INTO their particular branch OF science
70 widen the scope OF fascinating ex
periments. ~ IGAf
Besides, the use OF the motion pic
.ure camera would afford the posi-
Dlhty OF substantiating the assertion
mat every effort is made to 1avois
cruelty to animals In class rooms and
laboratories. All readers know tina