The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-16

The human brain mas Deen photo-
rranhed In the rivalry of scientists ex-
- bv Roentgenrs application of the
ca-ho5e x-rays TO photography, DR.. earle
IN simon. Of No. III East Fifty-sixth
e-~sef. steps forward and exhibits a pic
-,ra of his own brain, obtained from a
-~ocess in which the cathode ray IS not a
+sefor. 1t may be said. however, that the
-,.f5esnread interest attracted to ROent-
,sr.s discovery and the experiments of
Edison preparatory to his attempt to pho
+agraph the brain, as chronicled from day
IN dav. were the incentives that led DR..
efDon. after nearly three years of labor
+, bring to bear mis- whole power on
anil attempt to capture the prize of honor
IN being the first TO photograph the brain
Of a living being, and the Herald repro
duces two of these photographs, which
we're taken at o'clock yesterday morn
li flr simon, who is a graduate of the
New York University, pupil OF Charcot,
Fl Paris and a member of the New York
PoIvcInic, thus tells the story OF his et-
forts to photograph the brain and his
..The brain, you know, has been my es-
r,p-jal study and l have worked indepen-
IDENTIFY in a quiet way for nearly three
wears 20 photograph II. hrst sought 10.
accomplish my purpose by passing a con
rinuous current of electricity through the
Train Illuminating it by the spark, and
then | tried the interrupted current; but
This produced a paralysis OF the brain,
randeriny senseless the subjects. The
principle is illustrated by nash OF
lightning on a dark night, which carries
images through which 1t travels 10 the
eve From this, indeed, 1t was suggested
n me that the same idea might be ap-
red to the brain. Again, you know, the
irehy is made almost transparent by its
tiny lantern.
passing through the body form a circuit
AT the smallest possible points, / found
that instead of passing directly through
the brain it travelled through the skin
sround the head. and it, on the other hand
the flash was drawn through the brain
by magnetic attraction paralysis took
II then attempted to use the alternating,
interrupted current but found that insu-
lation of the skin was Impossible. tried
TO follow nature, as in the hreny, III the
production of trans-irridescent rays. AT
Ter a great deal of labor | succeeded in
equalizing to a considerable degree the
average between the rapidly with which
light travels and the rapidlty with Whlch
sound travels 1t has seemed TO me, IN
my experiments, that whenever the rays
of light Travelled slowly, or nearer 10 the
rate at which sound travels, that TINS
same light would in some uneXplalnable
manner appear to combine with waves OF
sound. .,..- .s...e,
the instrument by which l am able to
photograph the brain. of course, the more
solid structures are reflected on the plates,
and | found tIldI the less tAlOSuAC gave
TO the Photographic plate the easier ap-
parently was able to photograph translu-
cent material. 80
''The ravs lose in conjunction with
sound, and they are electric rays, so far
as the light is concerned have at
tempted in this instance TO photograph
my own brain, not being able TO procure
any one whom l thought would De appro-
pirate"
DR.. simon said that he used an ordinary
camera, with platinum plates subjected
PEnhCIHl
cal treatment. The time of exposure was
limited to two minutes in the case of pho
tographS reproduced in the Herald. Or
dinarily, the doctor said, the time of eX-
posture would be regulated by the depth
of material through which the light must
pass.
For the present DR.. Simon will not make
known the details of his apparatus. Il
do not like" he said, "to withhold it from
the public, but l desire to more fully per-
feet it before making the details known.
He pleaded guilty to the suggestion that
II would be a source of satisfaction to &C
complish himself, the perfecting of the
process which he has described. This
much he did say:
u produce the effect by attraction of the
light and propulsion through the brain
substance. At the time of photographing
the whole internal chamber of the brain
is lighted up"
In conclusion the doctor said: II am at
the commencement My discovery is not
consequent on the application of the ca
thode ray to photography. My idea pre-
inspired to push my experiments"
for TWO days and half the doctor
worked uninterruptedly, save a couple of
hours for sleep, when his tired brain
dreamed of its own likeness. The work
had not been without attendant dangers.
MANY small animals were sacrificed in
the cause of science Even the final and
successful effort was made with no as
surance that the camera might not hold
me picture of dead man. Though in a
measure satisfied that the process was
winch brain could DhOtO-
graphed without risk of life, it may be
stated that the experimenter selected
himself as his subject that no other life
might be endangered.
George Francis Train had consented to
SIT but the doctor finally decided not to
As a matter of fact, the success of the
experiments was no less in that the opera
Lon was without sensation than in the
reproduction of the brain picture
80 Tar as the use of the apparatus was
concerned, the doctor consented to say
mat the light was thrown from one side
OF the head against it, as in a magic Ian.
the other.
lie had arranged mirrors so that he
might observe the effects, and was thus
enabled to view his own brain. 1t was
nshted up so that he saw the interior and
Sfen the pulsations. His sensations, SO
LaI as he had any, were at the strange
nesS OF the phenomena and emotions of
success, rather than any physical effect
produced by the forces he manipulated,
ana which We're controlled by electric but
eons, the camera being exposed at the in
Slant that the light was directed at the
The doctor is a young man, being not
more than 80 years of age; is tall, slender
ana dark. He has a broad high forehead,
topped by bushy, black hair, and wears a
stIasgy, pointed beard. He possesses
strong hypnotic powers, which he has
USED successfully, though he is reticenS
IN lhat subject, as, indeed, he is modest
~ Speaklng of himself.
through his hypnotic powers, DIR. Simon
vas brought prominently to notice in Au-
6'Sl last. Mrs Susan Irwin of Columbus,
", was the subject of his treatment. Six
lars before she had lost the power of
atech through nervous shock. Burglars
IMtefed her home in Broad street, Column
i; -s and their prowling about the room
- winch she slept awakened her. She ut
49, scream, but was menaced by the
fHu4S of a revolver at her head. She
tSol.e9 and the burglars departed with
sc 3jne was subsequently found in an uncon-
t[o4s state, in which she remained for
s Jays. ON recovering il was found that
% iiad lost her speech. The services OF
49, practitioners were unsuccessful in
n 1rlhg 1t. With her husband, she went
Europe and was treated by the most
t oi,ieq specialists of Heidelberg and Lon
Ell While abroad her husband died. He