145 «N THE CAMERA LUCIDA. 



examine the lungs of one of the two criminals, who were 

 executed here on the 31st ult. for murder, and delivered to 

 him for dissection. The cells contained a considerable 

 quantity of air ; and from the room the lungs appeared to 

 take up in the thorax, I should imagine, they must have 

 Taeen nearly distended to their usual size, as in a living state. 

 Undoubtedly there must be some variation in the appear- 

 ance of different subjects; and, whether vitality cease sud- 

 denly, or in a more gradual manner, the effect on the lungs 

 will in a great measure be determined by it. 



Having extended my remarks on this subject farther thaa 

 I at first intended, 1 shall defer entering upon vegetation 

 &c. till a future opportunity. 



IX. 



On the Camera Lucida. In a Letter from Mr. R. B. Bate. 



Superiority of 

 ths: camera 

 lucida. 



The camera lucida is portable in a very small compass ; 

 " it represents objects with more brilliancy and distinct* 

 " ness than the camera obscura ; and it represents them 

 " either singly or in combination with perfect truth and 

 " correctness of perspective. What disadvantages has 

 " it then to counterbalance these particulars, in which 

 'f it is evidently superior in a very great degree to the 

 '* camera obscura?" * 



See Supplement to Vol. XXIII of Nicholson's 

 Journal, page 373. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 



SIR, 



Mr. Shel- 

 drake's state- 

 ment too un- 

 favourable to 

 it. 



JL OUR correspondent, Mr. Sheldrake, after passing the 

 above encomium on the camera lucida, has put the query 

 which follows, and answered it ; but in a manner ill calcu- 

 lated to lead to a fair conclusion upon the subject of his in- 

 vestigation. And, as I have found the camera lucida not 

 only less deficient in the points to which he refers, but t» 

 posses many advantages which he appears to have overlook- 

 ed, I feel induced to state them in a more familiar manner 



than 



