The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-12
CATHODE RAYS.
What Edison Thinks They
Will DO.
Cancer, Consumption and Hy-
drOphobia to Be Banished.
The New Discovery Topples All
Theory of Light.

son, In a statement made to a CONNER
cial Advertiser reporter, said:
81 believe that Roentgen's rays will
effect marvellous cures. j feel certain, for
example, that the rays will reach hydro
phobia cases. If my hypothesis is corr
rect, we shall be able 10 put a stop TO the
effects OF mac dog bites. Why may not
these wonderful rays bombard death-deal-
ing bacteria which are found in the lungs
of consumptivcs and give them an electric
static Quietus2 And with regard to ty-
phoii fever, yellow fever, malarial and
other fevers that are largely clused ty
microbes, as the doctors say, we may be
able to reach this bacteria and destroy
them by the rays. You can see what n
tremendous service Roentgen's discovery
will / c to mankind. IL my hypothesis
should prove to be correct, the result
viii be a goosend 10 the afflicted and suf-
fering, and especially TO those who have
what is regarded at present as incurable
diseases.
alt is a well-known fact" said Mr.. Ed
son, "that light decomposes water and
destroys, to a more or less extent. all the
deleterious ana disease germs in IL, II
plenty OF time Is given for the work. For
example, the water Of rivers is contami-
mated by big cities, and yet after "A dis
lance of some so or more miles is ~travers-
&a OIt AsiN Ah0t IA 'aAh0 fAttA hfo y
come purified by contact with the light
and afr. Indeed it is a ~well-known fact
in physics hat light oecomposes
liquids as well as solid bodies, and it is
this principle | propose TO invoke in con-
nection with the discovery OF the Roent-
gen rays.
"These wonderful rays, as you know,
pass through boards, %celluloid, human
flesh, aluminium, ETC., and yet act
chemically, upon bro mide of silver, so
that We are able TO secure well-deined
photographs.
snow, IL they will decompose certain
chemicals after they have passed through
solids, why may they not have the same
effect upon the bacteria in the body?
s'Is 1t not plausible and even prubableY
81 therefore propose first, to fill jars
with dirty water in which are all kinds
OF creatures of the animalculae and bac-
term persuasion, and then try what
effect the Roentgen rays will have upon
the water. / shall vary the current OF
electricity in the vacuum tube in order to
zee how the~X' rays will affect the ami
malculae.
"But no matter what these effects may
be, / somehow feel that the Roentgen rays
will reach hydrophobia cases, aud per-
haps effect marvellous cures. As you
know, the spot where this disease does
its fatal work Is at the base Of the brain.
IF, now i place my vacuum tubes at the
k8S0 ~ kA1 - teAa 1a
the electricity, j am pretty hopeful that
the Ro~entgen rays will kill sll the bacteria
and microbes that are raising Cain
there. Should my hypothesis be correct
and it seems more than plausible, does it
to the evil effects of mad dog bites"
Mr.. Edison has a number OF valuable
applications for the R~oentgen rays In
mind, which he intends to carefully in
vestigate in the course of the next month
or 80. AT present his work is mainly
preparatory TO great experiments.
In mis- evolution and development OF the
Crooke tube, which has cost from S15 to
go heretofore, the "Wizard' has brought
1t down to a nominal cost Of about a
quarter OF q dollar.
Mr.. Edison is now busy trying TO obtain
q vacuum that will throw off the great
est number of Roentgen rays. He is ex-
perinenting with currents Of electricity
OF from one to 30 lamp power, multiplied
by the Ruhmkorfi induction coil, 80 that
he obtains 100, 600 volts for the vacuum
tubes. He keeps a Big note book OF every
vacuum test, and In II he carefully notes
the various attendant phenomena.
One OF the most beautiful experiments,
and one which promises great results, is
with a vacuum tube that sembl very
much a dumb-bell. OF course, the whole Is
OF glass. The globes at the end are differ
ent in size. one being bigger than the
other. When this glass dumb-te, is placed
under the mercury pump for the purpose
OF exhausting the air, nd the current APP
piled one of he beautiful sights is witness
sed. The secret of securing the mot de-
sirable vacuum depends on the colors
manifested to the eye, Just as the s~rectro-
shows when the molten iron has
been transformed into steel.
At first there appears dancing streaks
and steamers of light of violet tint.
Then, as the air is more aud more ex-
hausted, the cathode rays become mani.
fest BY The most beautiful Illumination
OF the interior. The vacuum tube be-
comes rich in royal purple, and the cleo
trodes glo@ with hues of all description.
Edison now makes several imp rtant
tests. First, he explains that the cathode
rays are caused by he electrical and ether
waves clashing against o G another i'm the
tube. He brings an electro maqne to bear
on the tube, n the streamers OF puprle
and violet are detected from a direct path.
Next he examines them with a ~sgectro-
scope, and finds that they correspond to
certain phenomena OF sunlight.
Now the lower electrode, or cathode
pole, becomes a pronounced sky-blue,
while the purple column at the same time
ecomes invertebrate, and resembles the
back bone OF an animal. IL will only be
O Minute or two now till the proJer de-
gree OF air rarefacticn Is reached. Just as
soon as the blue huorescence makes its APP
49, 49, VI NRAVA Ahl0 lhA1
away, and pretty soon an oval blue ring
appears on the glass opposite the lower
e.tctroce. The koentgen rays are now
issuing from the cathode pole.
MIR. Edison explains that there is a ter
riic BON bardment of air PARTICLES going
on inside the glass, which accounts for
the presence Of the Roentgen rays.
A curious phenomena now asserts itself.
IL you place your hand in front OF the
cathode pole, some distance from the
vacuum tube, you will feel n cooling sem
eation, as 10 you were evaporating ammon-
Ia in your palms. This peculiar sensation
Is undoubtedly due TO the etheric excite
ment caused by the Roentgen rays.
"There IL something remarkable about
these rays" he says. ''and / am led to
think that we are on the eve OF tome
wonderful discoveries. Look at the cleo
trostatic effects on bromide OF silver
through board, aluminium and ce'luloid
why sometimes my Photographic plate
Is ell dark. showing that they penetrate
everything. II we can demonstrate be-
yond a doubt that they are the result OF an
ether disturbance, II viii upset our
whole wave theory of lfVht.p