Band XIX. Heft 1. 



The Common Basis of the Theories 



of Microscopic Vision, treated without the Aid 



of Mathematical Formuhi3. 



By 

 Julius Rheinberg, F. R. M. S. 



London. 



With 35 woodcuts. 



Preface. 



Qiiite a uiimber of theories of microscopic visiou liave beeu 

 brougbt forward, from time to time, and since many years tbe sub- 

 ject has beeu a vexed one and is popiilarly supposed to be very 

 intricate. In reality it is not so if we but get a clear idea of tbe 

 groundwork on wbicb all and every one of tbese theories has been 

 built. The followiug four chapters essay to give this, and if in 

 parts they seem somewhat too spun ont, my excuse is that I have 

 endeavoured to make them easily intelligible to the non-mathematical 

 reader and for those whose knowledge of optics is limited as well 

 as for those more familiär with the subject. 



These chapters were written in 1898 and 1899. They were 

 intended to form the commencement of a little book dealing fully 

 with each of the various theories which had been proposed, but want 

 of time preveuted me from giving effect to this Intention. Two reasons 

 lead me to bring them forward now jiist as they are. Firstly, 

 because they may be useful, at a time when owing to the recent 



Zeitschr. f. wiss. Mikroskopie. XIX, 1. 1 



