Researches in colour vision : and the trichromatic theory / by William de W. Abney.

  • William de Wiveleslie Abney
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Researches in colour vision : and the trichromatic theory / by William de W. Abney. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    the Royal Institution, which gave the then state of the Trichromatic Theory, was also published. To make further advances, accurate measures of the three sensa- tions existing in the spectrum colours were necessary. These measures having been made, a new base was established from which an attack on various problems that had been left indeterminate could be delivered. This present publication gives solutions of at least some of these problems. The author has not criticised in it any rival theory, but has confined himself to giving an account of his own researches in regard to the colour sensations, colour blindness, retinal fatigue, and the like. He trusts he has shown that all the pheno- mena he has studied, and to which quantitative measurement can be applied, are explained by this Physical Theory. There are some after - effects of light on the retina which, so far, do not lend them- selves to exact measurement by physical means. These have not been discussed. A theory, to be one of perfection, must offer the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The Trichromatic Theory offers the truth: but the physiologists must add their quota to it to make it the whole truth. There may be difficulties in welding together the physical and physiological aspects of Colour Vision to make a perfect theory, but it will be effected. There is such a striking likeness in the behaviour of the photographic plate with that of the retina when subjected to the action of light, that it is hard
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