The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-15
STUDIES OF
ROENTGEN RAYS
Experiments by Paris Scientists in
PhOtOgiaphing Through
Opaque Bodies.
REMARKABLE LONDON CASE
Blade Of Knife Removed From the Body Of
raralyzed Sailor. Alter All Other
Means to Detect the Cause Of Ms
Halady Had Failed.

Paris. Feb 1.-THE discovery OF Prof.
ROentRen OF Wurzburg that photography
Is possible through Opaque bodies. a de-
scriptlon Of which was recently given, Is
being actively followed up by professors
in the Paris laboratories
Al the physics laboratory OF the Ecoie
Normale. says the Temps. NJ. Perrin. a
young savant who has made some re-
markable Investigations In regard 10 light
and the Cathode rays. has succeeded In
obtaining negatives which are quite AS
successful as those emanatinR from the
Wurzburg laboratory. or those which
have been obtained by Dr. oudin or DR..
Barthelemy.
II would seem. as Tar as can be con-
jectured from one or two experiments.
that these rays are not, in the strict ac-
cepiation OF the word. catholic rays.
They act in a straight line without be-
ing appreciably dlffused. and give. ike
ordinary light. the phenomena OF sharply
defined shadows and the penumbra. prop
critics that Cathode rays do not possess.
These rays. moreover. are not reflected
by n mirror Of polished steel.
Finally. as substantially noted by Prof.
Rocntgen, they pass through prisms cut
in parafiin wax without deviation, and
thus are TO be distinguished from those
OF ordinary light and ultraviolet light.
which alone have been the objects OF
study up to the present
NJ. Perrin will continue his study OF
this most interesting scientific problem.
Al the same time other experiments are
being made in several other OF the Paris
laboratories.
As far as can be seen al present the
medical world viii benefit most by the
discovery. Its utility in surgery has al
ready been demonstrated. For the To-
caliEation OF foreign bodies in wounds
the discovery Is invaluable.
Prof Roentgen does not consider. how
ever. that tho regions OF the stomach,
the lolns and the heart can be photo
graphed by means OF the rays. the credit
for the discovery OF which he says must
be given to NJ. Menard. the Hungarian
scientist.
NJ. Ewald has asked II 1t viii be pos
sible to photograph through such parts
OF the body as the thigh. NJ. Neuhaus
replies that the rays would pass through
the muscles just as ones sight passes
through sheet OF glass
Up to the present time the most Won
derful use made OF this discovery is re-
ported in the Lancet. A sailor who
was ufuuBnt 10 6ll hOspitai mas Detn
completely cured OF paralysis. When
admitted he was dead drunk. and had
been found in very dangerous condition
In one of the worst quarters of London.
As soon as the drunken fit was over it
was found that he was paralyzed in the
upper and lower parts OF his body. The
most minute examination could reveal
nothing but small wound in his back
by the side of the vertebral column.
which. in few days, was healed.
During this time. and despite all med!-
cine. the man remained paralyzed. Then
Dr. Williamson was struck with the idea
OF employing the new Photographic dis
covery. A photograph. following Prof.
Roentgen's system, was taken of the
mans wound
The negative showed the presence Of
foreign body, the nature Of which could
not be determined between the first DOR
sal vertebra and the first lumbar verte-
bra. An incision was made at this place,
and after a great deal of difficulty the
blade OF knife was taken out.