Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-10
DELAYS ARE DISAPPOINTING
Large Numbers Visit the Edison Labora-
tory to Witness His Experiments.
IS CROOKS TUBES WERE NOT READY
Inventor states He IL Turning His
Attention 10 Developing the
racticaI side OF the Austri-
ans Discovers.

LEWELL1NG, N. j.. Feb. 9.-The labora-
tories of Thomas A. Edison have been be-
seged during the past few days by people
who are anxious to know what progress the
great eXperimenter has made in the use OF
the Crookes tubes and its application 10
photography. 1t was expected that Mr.. Edi-
son would try to photograph the human
brain yesterday and as consequence a
number of newspaper men and artists were
on hand to get the results Of the experiment.
The inventor had hoped TO have some new
tubes in readiness for the work of the morn
ing, but Notwithstanding the fact that he
and his efficient helpers worked all night,
they were unable to complete Their labors
Mr.. Edison confidently expects to have all
preparations made by Monday, however.
Mr.. Edison said that he was not spending
any time photographing his hand and keys,
but was devoting his entire attention to
developing the practical side of Prof Roen-
gems recent discovery. ALREADY said he
II have been able to establish the fact that
the different materials cffer different degrees
of resistance to the passage Of the new light
For instance, glass proves TO be relatively
poor conductor of the rays. while hard black
rubber permits the almost free passage OF
the light. Lead is also a good conductor"
The principal difficulty which the inventor
encountered in his experiments was the fact
that a sharp shadow of the material under
test could not be secured unless 1t was di-
rectly under the tube. This indistinctness
is due to the smallness of the .ubes which
have been used in the experiments, and 1t is
this same trouble which has caused the delay
in photographng the human brain and bones
of the head The tubes which are now be-
ing constructed are much larger than those
used heretofore and by the combined use of
several Of these the inventor hopes to make
/. 81 .-l... r. hon, md
the brain.
In answer to a question as to the defni-
ton of the new light, Mr.. Edison said:
THE Roentgen ray is wave In ether. More
than this | cannot say at the present time.
| consider it a very great discovery and have
confirmed all the experiments OF him VINO
first gave the discovery to the world. These
experiments with the f1ourescent light are
all very simple and beautiful and / am only
trying to increase the power and perfection
Of the record"
The reporter who visited Mr.. Edison today
was shown tube in active operation. The
power of the light as luminant is very
small indeed, and 1t is this fact which sur
prises the novice. His wonder is much in
creased, however when he is told that 1t is
not at all improbable that under favorable
conditions the light might be absolutely in
visible to the eye. The fourescence is caused
largely, If not entirely, by the glass which
is used in the construction of the tubes. The
new tubes which are being made at the
laboratory are about eight inches long and
two inches in diameter. The first intention
Of Mr.. Edison was to construct tubes Of
celulloid, but he now states that he can obtain
glass of sufficient thinness to make 1t un-
necessary to construct the celulloid tubes.
No experiment has ever been made at the
laboratory which caused so much interest
as the present one. Every employe of the
establishment shares the enthusiasm Of the
chief and all are anXiously waiting the de-
Velopments of Monday.