SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
531 
life-study, after (a long way) Magin’s “ Eeading Girl,” “ Brenda ; ” a. group of 
common-place girls under an English hedge, muffled up in fantastically- 
arranged modern dresses ; “ Eebecca and her Maidens ; ” and a girl reposing 
under a nearly mid-day sun, “ Evening ! ” is really too bad, however perfect 
such productions may be as photographs. Nor does the photographer benefit 
personally by such foUy, for the observer cannot admire the talent displayed 
without also concluding that the exhibitor is either very ignorant or imperti- 
nently egotistical ; either he does not, for instance, know that the sun-light 
falls at midday at one angle, and in the evening at another, or else he 
absolutely prides himself upon such school-boy knowledge as peculiar to 
himself, and has no fear of others detecting such a very glaring blunder. 
Some famous solar camera enlargements, life size, are exhibited by Mr. 
Alfred Harman. The exhibition also contains some admirable landscapes by 
Bedford, Mudd, Thompson, England, Blanchard, Annan, Gordon, Macfarlane, 
and others of our best landscapists, and several specimens of new printmg 
processes in carbon, printer’s ink, &c., on various surfaces. The specimens of 
apparatus shown are some stereoscopes by Murray and Heath, a graphoscope, 
and a very tastefully and highly finished piece of cabinet work, in the 
shape of a handsome cabinet stereoscope, in polished walnut- wood, by Mr. 
Meagher. 
The Aniline Process. — This is a new process of printing, of a truly novel 
description, introduced by Mr. Willis. For rapidity and simplicity of 
working, and for cheapness of production, it is unequalled ; but its applications 
are limited at present to the fac-simHe reproductions of artists’ drawings of 
every description, being very useful for reproducing large drawings such as 
engineers and architects produce, or the transferring of prints, photographs, 
old MS. music, maps, or artists’ designs to the block, for wood-engTavers. 
It will also be useful for decorators and photographic colourists. The sensi- 
tizing solution is as follows : — 
Bichromate of ammonia 30 grains. 
Phosphoric acid solution 1 fluid drachm. 
Water 1 „ ounce. 
The phosphoric acid meant is that sold in commerce under the name of 
dilute, and its strength should be such as will produce not a red or green, but 
a purplish black print. Plain Saxe paper is used, and the above solution is 
brushed evenly over its surface with a clean tuft of cotton wool. After it 
has been dried hi the dark, it is exposed to hght under a positive photograph 
or drawing, with which it is in close and even contact. When the image 
thus printed is distinctly visible, it is subjected to the action of anihne 
vapour, either by placmg the proof fastened by wafers upon a plate of glass 
over a flat-bottomed porcelain dish, containing a sheet of bibulous paper, and 
about a drachm of the aniline, such as is commonly sold in shops, or by so 
placing the paper in the bottom of a box that the aniline vapour descends 
instead of ascending. If the completion of the development leaves the 
picture of a dingy buff or orange-colour, it may now be whitened by simple 
washing in plain water. The fixing is accomplished by placing it for a few 
minutes in water to which a few drops of sulphuric acid have been added, 
after which it is washed and dried. 
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VOL. TV. NO. XVI. 
