The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-09-11

Some seyenty-five invited guests
gathered in the lecture room of Pauahi
Hall on the Punahou College grounds
last evening for the purpose of listen
ing TO a lecture and demonstration on
the ''N-Ray" by DR.. Lauschner, acting
surgeon aboard the Australia. DR..
Lauschner being a graduate of the
Berlin and Heidelberg universities and
pupil of a number of the leading
scientific men of Germany coupled with
the fact of the gentlman's reputation
as a lecturer, called out nearly all of
those who had been invited
Before the lecture those who came
in were shown plates of hands, legs and
arms with the bones visible. One of
these was the beautifully shaped
hands of lady with an engagement
ring upon it. This caused more than
one question 10 be asked during the
evening. All the plates were made
by DR.. Lauschner.
President Hosmer introduced the lee
turer with few appropriate remarks
and DR.. Lauschner proceeded with his
talk and demonstrations.
created one of the greatest sensations
ever made by discoveries in the realm
of science.
DR.. Lauschner dwelt upon the i'm
portance of demonstration in lectur-
ing on such topics as the one under
discussion. He then explained the
apparatus for photographing by means
of the "X-Ray." saying that each one
of the parts was nothing new but on
the contrary. something that had been
employed before in obtaining other re-
suits. There was first of all the all
important current. Then there was
the induction coil and last but not
least. the Crooks tubes. The last had
been used by Prof. Crooks for num-
Der OF years. were taken up by Lenhart
and lastly. were employed by Roentgen
himself.
The discovery of the "X-Ray'' was
not merely accidental. Roentgen had
experimental on the nature of the
ray obtained from the cathode termi-
Aal for some time. Last year while
experimenting with a piece OF paper
covered with a double salt he discov-
cred what he found TO be a new force.
AT that time he thought that since the
force came from the cathode terminal
il must be some modification of the
cathode ray but he found he was mis-
taken. In the ''X-Ray" the Y repre-
sents a totally unknown quantity. No
one knows what il is. No one knows
anything of the nature of the ray.
However, something is known of some
of its products and effects. 1t will be
haT
what the rays are.
Scientists have hesitated in making
assertions as to what the rays may be
because if they do they will have to
overthrow accepted theories that have
been. in existence for many years.
DR.. Lauschner then told OF the great
number of tubes that had been made
since the ''X-Ray'' discovery. The one
used by him was of English make and
was standard The connection of one
OF the terminals 10 the mirror Of alu-
minimum and the concentration OF the
rays at a point just before the platinum
disc together with other points in the
photography of solid objects by means
of the "X-Ray'' were explained, after
which the lights were turned out and
the demonstration began.
DIR. Lauschner held up a screen
made out of a thin film OF some white
substance in front of the tube contain
ing the rays and then inserted his hand
between the two. bringing it into di-
rect contact with the screen. Imme-
diately there were exposed TO view the
bones Of the fingers and hand. This
done a thick book was placed in the
same position and directly behind il
was put a small pocket-book containing
two silver pieces. The metal bindings
Of the pocket-book together with the
coins were plainly visible.
After all had seen these wonderful
things. DR.. Lauschner made few re
marks bearing on the subject in hand
and then closed.
DR.. Lauschner bears the distinction
of being the first 10 lecture before Q
Honolulu audience on the subject Of the
..X-Ray.'' and he has the hearty thanks
Of all those present for a pleasant and
instructive evening.
Among those present were Rev. c.
N. Hyde and Mrs. Hyde, Dr.. and Mrs
Day. DR.. and Mrs. Wood, Mr.. and Mrs.
". ". Hall. Mr.. and Mrs. ]. F. Brown
Auditor-General Laws and Mrs. Laws
Mrs. R. P. Myers, Mrs. Ashford, Misses
Grace. Richards. Benner, Finkler
Mossman %, Carrie Along, DIS. EmeT-
son. Miner. Andrews, Sloggett, Her
bert, Ryder, Professor Alexander, Rev.
Hiram Bingham. Colonel Fisher, Cap
tain Kidwell. F. A Schaefer. E. Suhr,
David Dayton, teachers of Punahou and
Kamehameha and many other spe-
cially invited guests.