559 



Lehrbuch der Mikrophotographie. By Dr. Carl KaLserling. 

 8 X 5| in., viii. + 179 pages, 54 figures in the text. Berlin, 

 1 903 : Gustav Schmidt. Price 4 marks. 



Unlike most books on photo-micrography, this work of Dr. 

 Kaiserling commences with a rather lengthy description of the 

 principal methods of projection. The author thinks, and not 

 without reason, that the general principles of photo-micro- 

 graphical technique can be most simply explained, if the elements 

 of successful lantern enlargement are clearly understood. Not 

 only are the simpler forms of projection apparatus alluded to, 

 but also the complicated epidiascopes of Zeiss and others. The 

 ■consideration of these leads naturally to the use of low-power 

 objectives, such as the Zeiss planars, and then to the use of the 

 microscope itself for projection purposes or photography. Very 

 careful instructions are given as to the actual methods of 

 procedure in taking photographs with the microscope, both in 

 the horizontal and vertical positions, and such little practised 

 branches of photo-micrography as micro-spectroscopy, micro- 

 stereoscopy, and the production of photographs with polarised 

 light, are by no means forgotten. 



The pieces of apparatus described and figured are practically 

 confined to the beautiful but expensive instruments of Zeiss. 

 Dr. Kaiserling does not, however, wish his readers to suppose 

 that only with these can good results be obtained. Nor, on the 

 other hand, does he lead them to imagine that the possession of 

 the most perfect apparatus is necessarily followed by the pro- 

 duction of superior negatives. As he pertinently remarks, 

 scientific photography is no mere trade, but an occupation 

 demanding individual consideration, individual experiment, and 

 persistent application. The pboto-micrographer must, in fact, 

 learn to think for himself, and not rely too much on rules laid 

 down by others. 



So far as we can see there is not much that is essential in 

 connection with photo-micrography, the production of lantern 

 slides (in natural colours as well as in monochrome), and pro- 

 jection, that is overlooked by the author. The methods of the 

 metallographist are not mentioned, it is true ; but this is a very 

 special subject, and its omission will not detract from the great 

 value of the book for the majority of those who take photographs 

 ^vith the microscope. D. J. S. 



