Essays on the Microscope: Containing a Practical Description of the Most Improved Microscopes, a General History of Insects, etc., etc.Adams, George
Science
Essays on the Microscope: Containing a Practical Description of the Most Improved Microscopes, a General History of Insects, etc., etc.
Adams, George
Insects -- Early works to 1800; Microscopy -- Early works to 1800
Screw one of the five cells, which contains a magnifying lens, to the
end, D, of the body; place the slider _i_ or _k_, with the objects,
between the plates of the slider-holder, K. Then, to attain distinct
vision and a pleasing view of the object, adjust the sliding body to the
focus of the lens you are using, by moving the upper part, C, gently up
and down while you are looking at the object, and regulate the light by
the concave mirror, I, below. The image of the objects in this
microscope is seen in a field of view of about six inches in diameter;
but, in the improved ones before described, it is from about twelve to
fifteen inches.
For opake objects, two additional pieces must be used; the first is a
cylindrical tube of brass, represented at N, which fits on the
cylindrical snout above D of the body: the second piece is the concave
speculum, L; this is to be screwed to the lower end of the aforesaid
tube. The upper edge of this tube should be made to coincide with the
line which has the same number affixed to it as the magnifier you are
using; that is, if you are making use of the magnifier marked 5, slide
the tube to the circular line on the tube above D, that is marked also
with No. 5.
The slider-holder, K, should be removed when you are going to view opake
objects, and a plane glass should be placed on the stage in its stead to
receive the object; or it may be placed on the nippers, _b_, the pin of
which fits into the hole in the stage.
A DESCRIPTION OF MARTIN’S IMPROVED SOLAR MICROSCOPE, WHICH IS
CONSTRUCTED TO EXHIBIT TRANSPARENT AND OPAKE OBJECTS. Plate V.
The solar microscope is generally supposed to afford the most
entertainment, on account of the wonderful extent of its magnifying
power, and the ease with which several persons may view each single
object at the same time. The use of it was, however, confined for many
years only to transparent objects. About the year 1774, Mr. B. Martin so
far improved this instrument, as to render it applicable to opake, as
well as to transparent objects, exhibiting the magnified image of either
kind on a large screen. Treating of it himself, he says[34], “With this
instrument all opake objects, whether of the animal, vegetable, or
mineral kingdom, may be exhibited in great perfection, in all their
native beauty; the lights and shades, the prominences and cavities, and
all the varieties of different hues, teints, and colours, heightened by
the reflection of the solar rays condensed upon them.” From its enlarged
dimensions, transparent objects are also shewn with greater perfection
than in the common solar microscope.
[34] Description and Use of an Opake Solar Microscope. 8vo. 1774.
Plate V. Fig. 1, represents the solar opake microscope, placed together
for exhibiting opake objects.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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