268 HOW TO WORK 



its focussing have not been in any way deranged, so that if the deve- 

 lopment brings out a good image, it can be repeated without the 

 necessity of returning to the camera before the second plate is ready. 

 S44. Developing tiic linage. Let us suppose the plate to be a 

 small one. First see that the nitrate bath is carefully placed out of the 

 way of a!! splashes, pour into a clean developing glass an ounce or 

 more of the iron developing solution, add the necessary quantity of 

 alcohol, or syrup and alcohol, and mix ; remove the plate from the 

 holder, rest it face up on a levelled developing stand set in a large 

 basin or pan, clip the left-hand opposite corners between the finger 

 and thumb, and commence the second step by flushing the surface 

 with some of the iron solution ; tip the plate about, that the liquid 

 may quickly flow up to all the edges, then move it gently about on 

 the top of the stand ; the light from the protected lamp or admitted 

 through the yellow glass window falling nicely on the surface, watch 

 for the appearance of the image ; this, if all be correct, will increase 

 steadily up to a certain point, when, if left longer, the plate will begin 

 to grey all over ; just before this would take place, or according to 

 experience, tip up the plate to throw off the developer, flush the plate 

 well with water from a jug or tap protected by a piece of flannel tied 

 loosely over it, to remove all the iron. Now examine the plate care- 

 fully by transmitted light from the window or lamp with yellow shade, 

 and judge -if it be worth continuing the other operations; reflush 

 again with water, pour off, and now pour on the fixing solutions 

 the cyanide of potassium is to be preferred pour this along the 

 thickened part of the collodion, let it pass over all the plate, and in 

 less than a minute, the plate will be cleared of the unaltered bromo- 

 iodide of silver. Wash well front and back with clean common 

 water, drain the plate for a moment, and pour on it along the edge 

 sufficient of the solution of iodo-iodide of potassium to well cover the 

 surface ; allow this to remain on the plate until the grey colour of 

 the image passes to a warmer tone (two or four minutes or more) 

 pour off the fluid, examine it quickly with a hand magnifier by ordi- 

 nary light ; if it now has the appearance of being in focus, wash the 

 plate well with common, then with clean fresh rain or distilled water ; 

 let this stand on it whilst you pour into a clean developing glass 

 about 2\, 3. or more drachms of the pyrogallic solution ; add to this, 

 from 6 to 10 drops of the 3o-grain nitrate of silver solution, and 2 to 

 4 drops of the nitro-silver solution, mix these by twirling the hand 

 holding the developing glass, pour off the water from the plate, and 

 carefully pour on along the edge or corner, this mixed fluid, so as to 

 flow to the edges ; rock as before : after a brief period, according to 

 the appearance of the image, return the fluid to the developing glass 



