EPISTOPY

EPISTOPY, projection on a screen of opaque objects (drawings, tables, anatomical preparations, etc.) by means of a reflecting projection apparatus, the so-called epistope. An apparatus that simultaneously provides both epistopic and diascopic (diascopy - projection of transparent objects) images is called an epidiaskope (for details, see Projection Apparatus). E. has been widely used as an illustrative method in medical departments. Its advantage lies in the fact that without preliminary photography and preparation of a diapositive, one can directly project from a textbook illustration or photograph onto the screen. This is especially convenient for projecting colored drawings. It is very convenient to project drawings, tables, curves, etc. onto the screen. Finally, there is a whole series of objects that can be shown to an audience only by means of E. or partially on film: fresh organs from autopsy with natural coloring, anatomical preparations, surgical operations on a corpse, etc. The ability to show not only stationary objects but also various technical manipulations on them brings E. closer to the cinematographic method.