Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-12
MAY MEDICATE RAYS.
Nikola Tesla Hints mt streams oil
Chemicals Into the Body.

(New York Herald, March llth.)
Nikola Tesla, the electrician, since Pro-
fessor Roentgen made known his dis
covery OF X-rays, has been experiment.
ing with them. He has been pursuing
his researches on his own lines with
tubes of his own make. His results and
conclusions Mr.. Tesla has made known
in the current No. OF the Electrical Re
view.
MIR. Tesla states that the rarefaction OF
Crookes tubes may be increased by
electrical means to any degree desirable
to a degree far beyond that obtainable
by mechanical appliances.
In regard to the nature Of X-rays he
says: Il am getting more and more con-
WINGED that we have to deal with a
stream of material particles, which strike
the sensitive plate with great velocIties
Taking as a basis the estimates OF Lord
Kelvin on the speed Of projected particles
in a Crooke's bulb, we arrive easily by
the employment Of very high potentials
70 speeds OF as much as a hundred kilo-
metres a second. Now, again, the old ques-
ton arises Are the particles from the
electrode or from the charged surface
generally. including the case OF an eN-
ternal electrode, projected through the
merely hit the inner surface and cadse
particles from the outside or the wal'
to fly Off, acting in a purely mechanical
way as when a row OF ivory balls Is
struck? So far most OF the phenomena
indicate that they are protected through
the wall OF the bulb of whatever material
il may be, and / am seeking for still
more conclusive evidence In this direc-
ton"
1T is now demonstrated beyond any
doubt that small metallic objects or bony
or chalky deposits can be infallibly Ge-
tected In any part Of the body"
by exposing the head to powerful
radiation" Mr.. Tesla says. Strange ef-
fects have been noted. For instance. |
find that there is a tendency to sleep.
and the time seems TO pass away quickly.
There is a general soothing effect and
I have felt a sensation OF warmth in the
upper part OF the head. An assistant IN
dependently confirmed the tendency 10
sleep. and a quick lapse Of time. Should
these remarkable effects be verified by
men with a keener sense OF observation
l shall still more firmly believe IN the
existence of material streams penetrating
the skull. Thus. 1t may be possible py
these strange appliances TO project SUIT
able chemical into any part OF the BODY
"ROentRen advanced lnOuto'9 hAS ~
suits warning against too much hope.
Fortunately, his apprehensions were
groundless. for although We have to all
appearances TO deal with mere shadow
projections. the possibilities of the APP
plication of his discovery are vast
At his laboratory, in east twenty
eighth stree. yesterday DIR. William j.
Morton made a picture OF the bones OF
the hand. in which the hollows In tht
bones OF the thumb were distinctly Visi
bile. and thus. then, was obtained a con
6rmation though not so Intended. OF th'
results OF Mr. Tesla's experiments men
toned. But, It was explained, the snadow
graphs delineating the hollows In bones
show that the central portions OF bones
are less dense than the outer hard OF
ivory-like structure. The Roentgen pro
cess n is. therefore, argued. by pro
nerIv timed exposure will delineate th
interior of the bone as well as the eN
terror. and thus indicate the presenc'
NJ any disease there. In this way IN
X-ravs will be Of incalculable Value u
medicine and surgery.