HISTORICAL NOTES

Photography and photomicrography in 19th century Madras

Anantanarayanan Raman

The science of light microscopy, which fected the technique of photographing light the earliest photomicrographic at- works using light from either the sun or small objects mounted on the platform of tempt made in by Jesse Mitchell in an artificial source (e.g. incandescent a light microscope in 1839. In 1840, for Madras in the 1850s. light, mercury lamp), has today expanded the first time he displayed the photo- substantially involving a range of versatile micrograph of a flea in Liverpool2. Linnaeus Tripe and Frederick Fiebig – tools and techniques, such as phase Dancer’s efforts were based on calotype- master photographers contrast, polarized light, fluorescence, (also known as the ‘talbototype’) and interference contrast, dark field, confocal, daguerreotype-imprinting techniques. The Although the purpose of this note is to deconvolution and fluorescent-semicon- calotype and daguerreotype techniques recall Mitchell’s photomicrographic effort ductor nanocrystals (quantum dots). Pho- were developed independently: the for- in Madras, I consider a brief reference to tomicrography that runs with light mer by William Henry Fox Talbot contributions of Linnæus Tripe and Fre- microscopy too has diversified exten- (1800–1877) in London, and the latter by derick Fiebig, who made striking land- sively and grown impressionably. In Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre (1787– scape- and macrophotographs in India in spite of the meteoric growth in sophisti- 1851) in Île de France. Both Talbot and the 1850s would provide a context. The cation in instruments used in modern sci- Daguerre independently trialled salts of web page of the Photographic Society of ence, which can measure quantities of Ag (serendipity?). To fix images perma- Madras5, established by Alexander materials and compounds precisely, nently Talbot used AgNO3 in combina- Hunter in 1857, refers to a few other key medical pathology is one specialty that tion with gallic acid, whereas Daguerre names in macrophotography in colonial relies greatly on microscopic observa- used AgI and NaCl solution. Daguerre’s Madras. tions to reach diagnoses. Especially in technique of using AgI was based on a Linnaeus Tripe (1822–1902), a captain the context of cancer, preparation of refined technique developed by Joseph in Madras Native Infantry (Madras quality photographs of smears and sec- Nicéphore Niépce, his work partner, who Army), is to be mentioned first. Tripe tioned tissues is vital. Treatment strate- used AgNO3 usually and AgCl occasion- was appointed the first official photogra- gies rely on the pathologist’s comments ally. pher of the Government of Madras in on the aetiology of the disease. A pho- Talbot attempted making photomicro- 1856, after a short stint in Burma6. tomicrograph is a highly valuable techni- graphs at magnifications less than 20×. Tripe’s task was to photographically cal document in science and industry. A In the book Die Fotographie als document historic structures of Madras quality photomicrograph is also an object Hilfsmittel Mikroskopischer Forschung Presidency, enabling the government to of beauty that evokes an appreciative (Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann, Leip- launch conservation efforts. His panora- excitement in the viewer. Whereas zig, Germany, 1863), Joseph von Gerlach mic photos of the Great Temple of Ŧan- macrophotography evolved much earlier, refers to one Christian Joseph Berres javur (Figure 1 a) and wall inscriptions photography of microscopic objects (1796–1844), professor of anatomy in therein are archived at the Canadian Cen- (then referred to as ‘microphotography’, Vienna, as the pioneer photomicrogra- tre for Architecture (CCA) (Montréal, which literally means ‘production of pher, who used a vertical-solar micro- Quebéc, Canada). CCA’s acquisitions of minute photographs’) developed in the scope designed by von Gerlach in 1839. these images are from the personal col- 1830s. Thomas Wedgwood (Stafford- Berres seems to have fixed the micro- lections of James Bruce – the eighth shire, , 1771–1805) in his article graphs using daguerreotype technique. Lord Elgin – who received them in 1860, ‘An account of a method of copying Berres wrote Anatomie der mik- while being the Viceroy of India, a posi- paintings upon glass, and of making pro- roskopischen Gebilde des menschlichen tion Lord Elgin held after being the Gov- files, by the agency of light upon nitrate Körpers (Anatomia microscopica cor- ernor General of Canada (1846–1854). of silver’ published in the Journal of the poris humani: Latin) published by Carl Tripe made calotype photographs (con- Royal Institution (1802–?) predicted the Gerold, Vienna in 1837. I could not see tact prints, 15 × 12″ size, used AgI to possibility of making photomicrographs1: the original text, but references to this print images), and also stereoscopic pho- book in classic-book catalogues indicate tographs using a stereo-binocular cam- ‘…, I have found that the image of that this is a finely illustrated medical era. Given that photography was in its small objects, produced by means of volume. Berres photographed ‘cells’. infancy then, the stand taken by the Gov- the solar microscope, may be copied Nonetheless, still being influenced by the ernment of Madras to appoint Tripe as without difficulty on prepared paper. ‘fibre theory’ in organism construction, the official government photographer and This will probably be a useful appli- Berres saw them as ‘bubbles’ and did not pressing him into action is noteworthy. cation of the method; that it may be recognize them as cells3. Frederick Fiebig is the second key per- employed successfully, however, it is Several European names sparkle in the son. Fiebig lived in Calcutta in 1840– necessary that the paper be placed at history of photomicrography4. Refer 1850s. The Bengal and Agra Directory & but a small distance from the lens.’ to Overney and Overney article4 to see Annual Register (1849–1850) refers to illustrations of the photomicroscopes of Fiebig as a piano teacher. In the 1840s, John Benjamin Dancer (1812–1887), a the 19th century and early 20th century. while at Calcutta, he took to photogra- professional optician in London per- The present note is an effort to bring to phy. He made several topographic

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Figure 1. a, A Linnaeus Tripe photograph of a part of the Brihadisvara temple, Ŧanjavur (1858); an albumen-silver print, from Tripe’s Photographic Views of Tanjore and Trivady. Source: http://www.cca.qc.ca/en/. b, A Frederick Fiebig photograph of Madras light house (1851). Source: picasaweb.google.com/Indian.Satheesh/MADRAS.

Table 1. Negatives of the photomicrographs submitted by Jesse Mitchell to the Madras Photographic Society Exhibition held in Madras in May 1859* i. proboscis of blow fly [484 x] ii. parasite of tame goose [484 x] iii. parasite of fowl, an Acarus (currently valid name; erected by Linnaeus 1758; Astigmata: Acaridae) [3.969 x] iv. a butterfly’s scale, Thecla (currently valid name; erected by Linnaeus 1758; Lepidoptera: Lycanidae) [276.676 x] v. ditto of item (iv) [672.400 x] vi. a butterfly’s scale, Polyommatus (currently valid name; erected by Linnaeus 1763; Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) [276.676 x] vii. parasite of pig [484 x] viii. proboscis of blow fly [1.600 x] ix. house flea [484 x] (a siphonapteran) x. trophi of a wasp [484 x] xi. wing of mosquito [484 x] xii. mouth of larva of ant lion [484 x] xiii. scale of Morpho menelaus (currently valid name; erected by Linnaeus 1768; Lepidoptera: Lycanidae) (Note: Is this a correct determination? Species of Morpho are not known in India) [72.900 x] xiv. Arnee muslin at Rs 12½ per yard [2.500 x] [‘Arnee muslin’ is the cotton fabric produced in the town Ãrni (12°67′N; 79°28′E) in Tiruannamalai District, near Madras] xv. Coccus lacca from mango tree [2.500 x] (current valid name: Kerria lacca (Kerr 1792); Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerridae) xvi. exuvia of bed bug showing lancets [484 x] (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) xvii. tarsus of a grasshopper [484 x] (Orthoptera) xviii. exuvia of a spider showing the jaws [484 x] *Text is presented as it is in the original; magnifications supplied in the original file are indicated in square brackets. Wherever appropriate, I have supplemented comments and remarks (‘Times’ typeface) ‘translating’ the 1850 data to the current time.

photographs of Calcutta. He too used the ence (MJLS)8 (p. 174) under the section Mitchell submitted 18 negatives made then state-of-the-art photo-printing tech- Proceedings of Scientific Societies (Pro- in an achromatic compound microscope nique, viz. calotyping. While travelling ceedings of the Photographic Society (Table 1) with the following declaration: to Colombo (Ceylon) from Calcutta, en [sic. ‘of Madras’]) includes the following route, he touched Madras and took pho- notation: ‘The Negatives were taken by the 7 tos of the place (e.g. Figure 1 b). The Collodion process and are untouched. only reference to his photographs made The proofs were toned by Hardwick’s ‘Arrangements made for the appro- of and in Madras occurs in ‘Photography new Alkaline Chloride of Gold pro- aching Exhibition, proposed to open in Madras’ published in the Illustrated cess.’ (ref. 8, pp. 195–196) Indian Journal of Arts (Part 4, February on the first Thursday of next month (sic. “May 1859”).’ 1832, p. 32), which refers to his Madras No details on the photomicroscopic unit, visit in 1852. No other biographic details which Mitchell used in Madras to create are traceable; that he was a German by In the report of the Committee appointed the prize-winning photos are traceable. birth and from lithography he took to to adjudicate the Photographic Society’s In high likelihood, he may have used a photography remain unverified. medals dated 12 May 1859 (p. 175), ‘custom-made’ camera adapting it to the besides references to the medals awarded achromatic compound microscope that Photomicrography in Madras and to landscape photographs of entries that he had. Alternatively, Mitchell may also negatives made by Jesse Mitchell had come from throughout India, the have used either the 1839 model of the photomicrographs made by Jesse Mitchell, von Gerlach photomicroscope (similar to The April–September 1859 issue of the winning the silver medal caught my the one used by Christian Berres in Madras Journal of Literature and Sci- attention. Vienna), or the 1852 model F. Meyer

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(also referred as ‘F. Mayer’ in literature) niasis (kala azar) in India. While work- Life, Duckworth & Co, London, 1903, photomicroscope. The Meyer photo- ing as the professor of physiology at the p. 271. microscope was a vertical set-up, which (1898–1909) 2. Manchester Microscopical & Natural had a stable base – a key necessity to and Superintendent (1910–1919) of the History Society, 2009; http://www.man- chestermicroscopical.org.uk/danchom. achieve sharp photos. Joseph von Gerlach fledgling Royapettah infirmary12 html, accessed on 10 June 2011. developed an easy-to-work-with system, (‘Royapettah Hospital’ today), Dono- 3. Lesky, E., Die Wiener medizinische which was simpler than the Meyer van’s glass-slide preparations of human- Schule im 19 Jahrhundert, Hermann photomicroscope, but that occurred in blood smears to study the biology of the Bdhlaus Nachfolger, Graz, 1965, p. 595. 1863. Lack of a stable base was a weak protozoan, made nearly five decades 4. Overney, N. and Overney, G., 2011; point in the 1863 von Gerlach system, later to Mitchell’s prize-winning efforts http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/, ac- which was rectified subsequently9. in Madras, were not photographed; rea- cessed on 10 June 2011. From the details I could gather, it sons unknown. However, we know that 5. Photographic Society of Madras, 2008; appears that Mitchell was an avid photo- much of Donovan’s microbiological re- http://photomadras.org/www/society/hist grapher. He has published an article on search was meticulously recorded as ory.html, accessed on 16 June 2011. 6. Jarvis, A., Mod. Asian Stud., 2011, 445, plain or waxed paper process in photo- ‘water colours’ by Amy Anna Caroline 791–823. graphy10. Little biographical details of Skelland, a nurse matron at the Royapet- 13 7. Falconer, J., Encyclopedia of 19th Cen- Mitchell are available. Most of the report tah infirmary . Donovan sent smears on tury Photography (ed. Hannavy, J.), referring to the prize-winning entries in glass slides and explanatory colour- CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 2008, 8 MJLS indicates Mitchell was a Lieuten- pencil sketches (made by himself?) to vol. 1, pp. 1–529. ant in the Native Veteran Battalion, Ronold Ross (T. Sriramulu, pers. com- 8. Madras J. Lit. Sci., 1859, V (New Se- Madras Army. A casual reference indi- mun., e-mail on 15 June 2011), who ries), 174–196. cates him a Captain and he succeeded named the protozoan L. donovoni14. 9. Stein, S. Th., Das Licht im Dienste wis- Edward Green Balfour as ‘part-time’ su- Arthropods seem to have been attrac- senschaftlicher Forschung. In Handbuch perintendent of the Madras Museum. In tive subjects in early photomicrographic der Anwendung des Lichtes und der Pho- tographie in der Natur- und Heilkunde, this reference Mitchell is acknowledged efforts. Dancer photographed a flea in den graphischen Künsten und dem for securing several Amrãvati sculptures through a microscope in 1840; however, Baufache, im Kriegswesen und bei der to the Madras Museum. However, the in chronicling the evolution of photomi- Gerichtspflege, Verlag von Otto Spamer, 11 Madras Museum History website , crography, the most significant effort Leipzig, 1877, vol. 18, pp. 431–480. which I would consider authentic, refers was that made by Christian Berres to 10. Mitchell, J., Madras J. Lit. Sci., 1856, II to Mitchell as its superintendent from photograph human tissues in a micro- (New Series), 71–80. 1859 to 1872 with the following remark: scope. Mitchell, in high likelihood, was 11. Government Museum (no date) ‘A public library commenced function- unaware of Christian Berres’s efforts History of the museum; http://www. ing, as a part of Madras Museum in June made in German-speaking Vienna and chennaimuseum.org/draft/history/history. 1862, although the formal building was was only aware of Dancer’s efforts made htm, accessed on 14 June 2011. 12. Tharakaram, S., 1999; http://www.lmi. opened on 16 March 1876. … …Captain in English-speaking London, and he may org.uk/Data/10/Docs/11/11Tharakaram. Mitchell, the superintendent, strength- have followed Dancer in examining en- pdf, accessed on 15 June 2011. ened the library, which grew into the tomological curios through a microscope. 13. Wellcome Library (no date); http://li- Connemara Public Library.’ Strange that one of the entries which won brary.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTL039962. the silver medal in the 1859 Madras Pho- html, no date, accessed on 17 June 2011. tographic Exhibition was the negative 14. Ross, R., Br. Med. J., 1903, 2, 1261– Conclusion that pertained to cotton fibres (Ãrni mus- 1262. lin; item xiv, Table 1). Although minor The pioneering effort made by Mitchell issues exist with Mitchell’s determina- looking for a greater level of details in tions of arthropods (see my remark, item ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. I thank Thara- karam Sriramulu (Consulting Dermatologist, biological objects through a microscope xiii, Table 1, refer to Morpho menelaus Medway NHS Hospital, Kent, England), and attempting to immortalize those Linnaeus 1768; Lepidoptera: Lycanidae), views by photographing, in colonial Rajan M Dewar (Hematopathologist, Beth his other determinations are spot on. Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Madras, is striking. Although landscape No records indicate that Mitchell was a Medical School, Boston, USA), and Keith M photography and macrophotography trained biologist. He photographed Harris (former Director, International Institute were popular, thanks to Tripe and Fiebig, mostly those arthropods that were of of Entomology, London, England) for their and a few others, Mitchell’s efforts to value in a human context – either aesthe- helpful review and comments. create photographs using a microscope tically (e.g. butterflies) or economically are indeed worthy of recall. This remark (e.g. lac insect that produces lac, blow needs to be read in the context described flies that live on livestock and arthropods in the following paragraph. that infest domesticated birds). Anantanarayanan Raman is with Charles Charles Donovan (1863–1951) is re- Sturt University and E H Graham Centre membered in Madras science for his dis- for Agricultural Innovation, PO Box 883, covery of the protozoan 1. Litchfield, R. B., Tom Wedgwood, The Orange, NSW 2800, Australia. donovani, the agent that causes leishma- First Photographer: An Account of his e-mail: [email protected]

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