Reel and Slide (Jan-Sep 1919)

14 REEL and SLIDE capillaries in the vascular area which is still outside the body cavity, these vessels reunite into a large vein which enters the heart again at the opposite side. After this we see the entire living embryo 48 hours old, demonstrating the circulation in the vascular area. I then take up the heart and show that it is a muscular organ which by its rhythmical contraction decreases its volume and thereby drives out the blood which has flowed into it during the period of relaxation. In mammals and birds there are two separate circulations ; the two pumps are combined together side by side, the right auricle and ventricle form one pump, while the left auricle and ventricle form the other. Make Further Experiments In the fourth scene we see the heart of a living embryo 33 hours old, showing its first rhythmical activity and the course of blood in the transparent heart cavity during contraction. The next picture shows us a heart of a living embryo 36 hours old, which body is still transparent enough to demonstrate actually the action of the arterial heart valves. In the following picture we see an embryo which is 150 times magnified and observe the circulation of the blood in the right and left mesenteric artery and the contraction of its walls. Next I take up the vasculatory area and explain that, since the blood vessels, as they become farther removed from the embryo, divide into smaller branches, it is evident that there is produced an increased internal friction of the blood which causes considerable resistance to its flow. A high pressure is therefore required in the main arteries to drive the blood through the small vessels. Next we see the mesenteric artery demonstrating the arterial flow of blood; follow the vessel until it divides into several branches : then see an anastosmosis in the vascular area; the arterials in the fore and mid brain; the capillaries in the hind brain pass into the capillaries of the posterior, cardinal vein, the capillaries of the anterior vitalline vein and then go back to the mesenteric venous system and reach the embryo again at the right mesenteric vein, demonstrating the even flow of the venous blood. After these pictures I explain that Carrel and myself many times have made experiments to determine the condition which would prolong the life and function of the heart muscles by transplanting them into a tissue culture. We observed that the heart of a chick embryo will beat rhythmically six to ten days after being removed from the animal and transplanted in blood plasma, which is the fluid part of blood. But if tissues are retransplanted from time to time into a fresh culture the muscles will live for more than sixty days. Production a Real Triumph In order to obtain such cultures the heart of an embryo is removed from the body and dissected into small pieces about the size of the head of a pin. Each piece is then transferred to a coverglass and quickly embedded in a drop of blood-plasma before it coagulates. The coverglass is then inverted over a hollow ground slide and sealed with hot paraffine to prevent drying. The thus prepared culture is then reincubated. In the following picture we see a transplanted heart of an embryo eight days old, which continues to beat rhythmically after ten days of transplantation. I then show a tissue culture in order to demonstrate the size of a piece of heart muscle, which is followed by a section of heart muscle fifty times magnified, showing its rhythmical activities thirty days after transplantation. I have shown my films to scientific authorities of the highest standing, who agree that one of the most valuable prospects of these films lies in the fact that it encourages research, reflection, and original thought guided by sound scholarship, which brings within the comprehension of the student's mind a wide range of information without making any subject too complicated as to make its use difficult for high school purposes. As this is the first time in the history of the motion picture that a film of such an unusual character is produced, we might be justified to speak of a real triumph. "Scarlet Trail," Feature Film, a Model Moral Lesson, Says Trade Paper Critic T Denis J. Sullivan, manager of the Department of Domestic Distribution of the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information, is another of the prominent men of the industry who takes the position that there has been no lessening in the interest in war pictures. While Mr. Sullivan is not interested at this time in forming a prognosis of the popularity of fictional war dramas on the screen, he is in the best possible position to know the pulse of the public on real war action pictures such as those taken by the United States Signal Corps photographers in France, such pictures as "America's Answer" and "Under Four Flags." HE Scarlet Trail," a production intended to instruct the young in clean morals, is commended in "Wid's Daily" as follows : "In regard to the present production, it may be notedin its favor that it is based on facts verified by medical authorities, and excellent judgment has been shown in excluding gruesome incidents likely to offend. "The Scarlet Trail" is free from the nauseating details apt to accompany a presentation of a subject of the kind. "As I have already mentioned, it can't be classed as genuine entertainment, but it should be beneficial in that it points a warning to youth and never by any inference makes vice attractive. On this score it ought to be possible to get the endorsement of some of the social betterment societies in each town, particularly if the exhibitor has a large manufacturing population in need of instruction in the vital things of life. "He might even arrange an introductory lecture to be delivered by some physician familiar with the social hygiene campaign now being carried on by the government and many societies. Some startling facts might be revealed in a talk of this kind, touching on conditions brought to light in examining men for the army. Due credit is given in the film for the beneficial work conducted by the Y. M. C. A., the Red Cross and other organizations, which also should be of value in getting the patronage of serious minded folk who are sincerely interested in promoting any educational movement which benefits the communitv as a whole." Pittsburgher Suggests Film Theaters as Social Centers "The suggestion of Will Earhart, supervisor of music in the Pittsburgh public schools, that moving picture houses become centers for community singing is practical," says the Post of that city. "The movies are pretty much community centers now, having attraction for the residents of all ages. Throughout the war they had patriotic singing, and with lasting benefit as well as pleasure to their patrons ; greater appreciation of the national hymns was given to many, not only in respect of their sentiment, but also of their music. As pointed out, the community singing as a regular feature adds to the attraction of the house ; in addition to the musical pleasure it gives, it promotes good fellowship and naturally an attachment for the place of meeting develops with this sentiment. "Occasionally the movies have professional singers on their programs, and what pleases a musical comedy star more than to have the audience whistle the chorus or join in singing it? All that is required to make the movies centers for communiey singing is a little development of the ideas that have taken hold. The public and the proprietors of the nlayhouses named should be prompt in taking up the suggestion." Picture Theaters as Library (Continued from page 8) In the matter of propaganda, the theater man certainly commands public opinion as effectively as does the local newspaper editor, more surely than the settlement worker and the local librarian, not because he personally has greater influence but because the medium is at his elbow and he controls the channels of distribution, which means the quickest and most direct route to the minds of the greatest number of people. He could more easily defeat a prohibition campaign than could the editor if he desired to do so, and could secure the proper films, which he usually can. Now, there is one way in which earnest workers for the public good may counteract the influence of the exhibitor, always , bearing in mind that he is in business to make money and has few_ preferences regarding his showings. That is by giving the exhibitor who merits it the material support of the best element in your district. If he can count on your support and you work with him constructively, as workers have done in many towns, he will quickly find the kind of films most desirable and gladly exhibit them. He will find comedies that are clean and wholesome, dramas that have a good, moral tone, that are well directed, well acted, and which have literary quality; he will no longer scorn the scenic and the educational picture — providing he believes or knows that he is giving a majority of the people what they actually want.