164 Royal Society :— Mr. Talbot on 



the recti muscles are, by means of this peculiar mechanism, enabled 

 to act as antagonists to that muscle. 



5. " An account of some recent improvements in Photography." 

 By H. F. Talbot, Esq. F.R.S. 



The author had originally intended, in giving an account of his 

 recent experiments in photography, to have entered into numerous 

 details with respect to the phenomena observed ; but finding that 

 to follow out this plan would occupy a considerable time, he has 

 thought that it would be best to put the Society, in the first place, 

 in possession of the principal facts, and by so doing perhaps invite 

 new observers into the field during the present favourable season for 

 making experiments. He has, therefore, confined himself at present 

 to a description of the improved photographic method, to which he 

 has given the name of Calotype*, and reserves for another occasion 

 all remarks on the theory of the process. 



The following is the method of obtaining the Calotype pictures. 



Preparation of the Paper. — Take a sheet of the best writing 

 paper, having a smooth surface, and a close and even texture. 



The water-mark, if any, should be cut off, lest it should injure 

 the appearance of the picture. Dissolve 100 grains of crystallized 

 nitrate of silver in six ounces of distilled water. Wash the paper 

 with this solution, with a soft brush, on one side, and put a mark on 

 that side whereby to know it again. Dry the paper cautiously 

 at a distant fire, or else let it dry spontaneously in a dark room. 

 When dry, or nearly so, dip it into a solution of iodide of po- 

 tassium containing 500 grains of that salt dissolved in one pint of 

 water, and let it stay two or three minutes in this solution. Then 

 dip it into a vessel of water, dry it lightly with blotting-paper, and 

 finish drying it at a fire, which will not injure it even if held pretty 

 near : or else it may be left to dry spontaneously. 



All this is best done in the evening by candlelight. The paper 

 so far prepared the author calls iodized paper, because it has a uni- 

 form pale yellow coating of iodide of silver. It is scarcely sensitive 

 to light, but, nevertheless, it ought to be kept in a portfolio or a 

 drawer, until wanted for use. It may be kept for any length of 

 time without spoiling or undergoing any change, if protected from 

 the light. This is the first part of the preparation of Calotype 

 paper, and may be performed at any time. The remaining part 

 is best deferred until shortly before the paper is wanted for use. 

 When that time is arrived, take a sheet of the iodized paper and 

 wash it with a liquid prepared in the following manner: — 



Dissolve 100 grains of crystallized nitrate of silver in two ounces 

 of distilled water ; add to this solution one- sixth of its volume of 

 strong acetic acid. Let this mixture be called A. 



Make a saturated solution of crystallized gallic acid in cold di- 

 stilled water. The quantity dissolved is very small. Call this solu- 

 tion B. 



When a sheet of paper is wanted for use, mix together the liquids 

 A and B in equal volumes, but only mix a small quantity of them at 

 * See our last Number, p. 88.— Edit. 



