The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-12
PROF. WATERMAN
ON ROENTGEN RAYS
Instructive and Entertaining Lecture BY
q Princetcr Professor.
HISTORY OF THE SUBTLE DISCOVERY
Lecture Was Given Under the Aus.
pices of the Scranton Engineers
Club at Albright Library Hall Last
Night .X.Rays Illustrated Through
Stereopticon Photographs and Ori.
gin Of Discovery LuciGly Explained.

IIoA. L -. " "A sSIiia...ti VI iA.~seSiA
college. lectured or Roentgen rays at
Albright Library fall last night under
the auspices OF the Scranton Engin-
eers' club. His c.ldicnce consisted OF
the members c. the club and invited
friends, men and women, who vere in
structe6 Il, no mallGegrsee BY the mas
re-ly style IN which the subject was
treated.
After Prof. Waterman had given the
history of the stages OF development o.
the X-rays, and hy means of an elsc-
tric battery illustrated the rays. he PIE
sented TO his audience photographs on
a screen from q stereopticon. showing
that this new scientific discovery is one
of vast possibilities and wonderful
benefit in manifold ways.
The speaker with emphasis took oc-
casion to correct Sallacy which, he
said, many Of the newspapers are re-
sponsible for; they have taught that
these rays can he produced by processes
Of light or heat es well as electricity.
This is not true: the only agent By
which they are obtained Is electricity.
That. he wanted to be distinctly borne
In mind.
GLASS TUBE EXPERIMENTS.
In 1858 scientists began experiment.
! ing with glass tubes to create a vacu-
um. They succeeded in freeing the in
side Of the tube of all the molecules ex-
cept the one millionth part. From
| time TO time others experimerted and In
not many years 1t was possible to eX-
clude all the molecules but the one
/ twenty-millionth part. The tube was
placed between two currents Of elec-
trlcity entering it at each end and the
vibrations Of the current created a light
in the tube. illuminating II brightly.
/ In 1894, two years ago. the beginning
3 OF the discovery Of these rays took
place, but It was not until December,
1895. that the message flashed across tf e
water that William Conrad Roentgen
had achieved tangible success. While
working in darkened room with one
of these tubes, he for moment shaded
his eyes from the light produced by the
electricity inside the glass, and in look.
ing at piece Of paper on which some
of the metal he used in the laboratory
had dropped, he noticed that the rays
photographed 1t, and he felt immedi-
ately that the rays would photograph
foreign substances in other matter as
well as 1t did on the paper Experi-
ments were made and resulted satisfac.
torily. Rcentgen did not understand
the rays and he called them X-rays
from the term X used as an unknown
quantity in mathematics.
EFFECT IN SURGERY
Prof. Waterman spoke Of the effect
that the rays will have in surgery. Bull
lets imbedded in the flesh may be easily
traced and fractures Of bones will be
presented clearly. To show what the
rays have done, he presented photo.
graphs from the stereopticon. The
greater the density Of the substance
photographed the less penetration is WIS.,
ible.
First was exhibited razor in its case.
The rectangular lines Of the case were
family visible. but the steel blade wa
seen in full relief. Then he brought out
the contents Of letter sealed in an en-.
velope. The writing was plainly lesi-
BILE. To disprove that glasses offer no
resistance 20 the rays an exhibit was
given of pair of spectacles The glass
was not penetrated. Next in order were
shown the relief work on coin, skele.
tons Of fishes and other small creatures,
a hand with ring encircling one Of the
fingers, woman's foot in her shoe. q
hand with bullet lodged near the
thumb Joint, the trunk Of a person. the
hands of persons, showing the position
Of the bones. the knee joint, and the
arm. The speaker was accorded great
applause at the end Of the lecture. and
many accepted his invitation to inspect
from which can be obtained a better
view than can be seen from the produc-
ton Of the photographs through stere.
opticon. Prof. Waterman is a young
man, but the impression he made was
that he possesses a great knowledge oi
physical science.
CAPTAIN MAY CHAIRMAN.
Captain w. A. May was chairman ant
introduced the lecturer. The monthly
meeting Of the club was held coincident
with the lecture. AS the member:
passed through the door they ballotet
for Frederick II Eaton for associate
membership. Mr.. Eaton was elected
He is president Of Jackson 6, Wocdir
Manufacturing company, Of Berwick.
The following We're proposed for &C.
tive membership: Alfred e. Listed, ct
Philadelphia, Harry E. Ewens, Of thu
Hillside Coal and Iron company; aNt
these we're proposed fo~ associate mem
bership: Joseph N. Eoiea, George p
Grifiths, superintendent Of the Barber
Asphalt company: and ]. G. Hampstead