120 
PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION. 
March 2nd, 1865. 
Mr. John Parry in the Chair. 
Mr. Dancer read a paper entitled, “ The Opaque Micro- 
scope not New,” in which he proved that the so-called new 
instrument was of very old date, and was described and used 
previous to the year 1780 ; and that an improved form of it 
was exhibited nightly at the Manchester Mechanics’ Institu- 
tion in the winter of 1840-1841. 
Mr. Sidebotham exhibited some prints taken by the 
Wothlytype process, and described the mode of their produc- 
tion. Others printed by the ordinary silver process from the 
same negatives were also exhibited, and pronounced to be 
superior in every way. 
Mr. Brothers exhibited two photographic prints taken 
by Mr. Pouncy, of Dorchester, one of them obtained direct from 
the negative in printers’ ink, the other printed from stone. 
Mr. Brothers also exhibited, with a copying camera, the 
mode of obtaining photographs of microscopic objects by 
burning magnesium ; also a negative and a print from it of 
an insect dissection so enlarged. 
Mr. E. C. Buxton, jun., read a paper entitled “ Photo- 
graphic Experience in India,” and illustrated it by a number 
of large and beautiful views he had taken in 1863 and 1864. 
The difficulties of photography in hot climates such as 
India are usually believed to be very great, and until quite 
recently Indian photographs — or, at least, such as / had the 
chance of seeing — were little more than patches of black and 
white. No doubt there were many exceptions, but I think 
that was the general character of Indian photography. The 
hardness and want of half-tone was attributed to the intense 
light of the sun, the heat, and the difficulty of preserving 
chemicals in good working order. 
