New-York tribune., 1896-05-30

with an electro magnet capable OF HitnE IW
mounds a magnetograph was mad through DOCK
OF wood two inches In diameter The oDJcct
whose image 10 be Impressed was piac"d IN
contact with the sensitive nlm. Clear images
were secured in five minutes. The experiments
were all made in dark room.
These experiments seem 20 indicate, SAID pr
Mckay that the ether in the field OF a magnet
T. In state OF permanent stress ana mat any
change in magnetic force caused By notion OF
the armature or variation Of current aireng'h pro-
duces A change In the degree Of stress. ana mus
originate ether waves capable of affecting tho
ordinary Photographic plate.
perhaps the shadow pictures produced by long
EXPOSURE 10 sunlight. which some mink 20 b'
R5ntgen effect, may De caused by magnetic waves
f,m tho sun and may not the RGntsen rays
,hcmselyes be something analogous 10 these mag
nei!c rays?
when a Tribune reporter asked the doctor FOR
h,s opinion OF the practical side OK the ray ne
said tha, ne though, 4, had created rather more
Of n commoton than developments. up to date
warranted.
"If II prove 10 be a gcrmicii'. however ne
added ~ by passing these Invisible rays through
the body The germs Of disease may be destroyed
without destroying the tissues OF the body. then
I think this discovery would deserve 10 I"hA
with the discoveries OF Jenner and Pasicur
~ think the X ray has been proved TO XII! GER
tain germs In cultures. but 1t Is not yet proved
tha, IT Kills germs IN the living body The cx-
perlments in consumptiVe In ChicaSo are ""'u' a'-
~ watched with much interest
THE \ ray has proved Of considerable value In
locating fractures and bullets for surgical operation.
But think the great interest Of scientific men Is not
so much because OF tho possible practicable appli-
ation OF the ray because OF the relation the ~
hears TO our present theories II may make II nects
gary 10 modify somewhat notions OF radiant
energy ,-,,..
dinal Of ether. as many physicists MINK II may
be- il might help TO solve some OF the other mys-
t,ries, such gravitation: - ,,-,
"All other forms Of radiant energy win Whlch
We are familiar are believed TO be transverse Vlbfh-
tiOns of ether Maxwcrs theory OF light does not
permit of longitudinal vibrations. and MS theory
wave IL these rays 1rove to be longitudinal waves.
'Longltudinil waves would account Tor the prne-
trating quality OF the ray and us lack OF refrac,
tion or reflection. But | do not know that any OF
these theories account for all OF the phenomena
that seem to obtain in connection with the kontgen
rays , 49,. ,, ,,, ,,,
the rays might help to explain gravitation?"
was asked - . :, ,-,..
''If the waves Of the ray prove TO be longitu.
dnai. gravitation may be the same. There Is at
nresent absolutely no theory for gravitation. and
It's just possible that grayitaton may be shown
TO be longitudinal, but must confess can't see
how IL Is 10 be shown
III may be that the Y rays are vibrations Of low
frequency and OF long wave lengths. They may
organ pipe You notice when blow this pipe softly
you hear a low tone. and when blow IT harder you
hear higher notes. The Y ray may be Ike the low
note In which the iuorescent light accom-
panying the ray may correspond to the higher
notes II the y ray be of low frequency two
things are accounted for; the fact that the ray
penetrates Opaque substances easily. 1t Is easy to
understand that vibrations may he too slow to
Affect the optic nerve and II is known that waves
OF this do penetrate better than those OF higher
frequency"