The herald., 1896-03-11

graphs of the shadows of the profile of the
door which separates the rooms. in one OF
which the apparatus and in the oher the
dry plate stUod of the shadows of the
bones in the hand; of the shadows of set
OF weights inclosed in a box: of piece of
metal, the inhomogenity of which is dis
tinctly visible by the XXI rays, and many
Others. To prove the rectilinesr (straight
ined) spreading of the az rays, l took.
furthermore hole photograph, which l
succeeded liz making of the apparatus
while covered with black paper The pic
ture is faint, but undoubtedly correct.
investigated for interference of the "N"
rays, but am sorry to say with no sue
cess, probably on account of their weak
intensity. In endeavoring to solve the
question what in reality the TX" rays
could possibly be, since they cannot be
cathode rays, one is at first glance almost
made to believe they are ultraviolet light,
in consequence of their brilliant flores
cence and chemical actions. However, one
meets at once with considerable doubt. II,
light. this ultraviolet light should and
would have to possess the following prop.
critics.
(a) That they could not suffer any no.
ticeable refraction while passing from air
into water, carbon sulphide, aluminium,
rock salt, glass. zinc. etc.
(b) That they could not be noticeably
and regularly reflected by these suo-
stances.
(c) That they could not be polarized by
usual and ordinary means.
(d) That the absorption of this light
could not be influenced by any other ma
ture of the substances than their density.
All this means that we would have to
presume that those ultraviolet rays are OF
an entirely different nature than thoss up
to the present time known as ultra-red Wis
ible and ultraviolet rays.
| could not make up my mind to this eff.
feet, and therefore investigated further for
another explanation.
There seems to exist some kind of rela-
tionship between the new rays and the light
rays, at least the formation OF shadows, the
fluorescence and the chemical actions
which the TX" rays produce point that way.
Now it is we'll known fact that besides
the horizontal fluctuations of light there
also exist vertical fluctuations in the ether.
and according to many physicists these
must exist. o. course their existence
could not be proven as yet positively, for
which reason their properties have not yet
been investigated in an experimental
manner.
Would it not be possible, therefore, to ac.
count for the new rays through the vertical
fluctuations in the ether?
l must confess that the more investi-
gated this matter the more did | adhere to
this belief, and therefore allow myself to
express here this presumption, although
am very we'll aware that this version re-
quires further proof.
The reading was followed with the closest
attention, and at the conclusi Mr.. Mar.
schultz was greeted with burst of ap.
plause.
Some further interesting experiments
were given by Prof. Lundberg, after which
the matter was opened for general debate.
Remarks were made by q number of those
in the audience. after which some fine pic
lures taken by Roentgen rays and imported
from Germany by Mr.. Marschutz were
passed around among the audience for
their inspection.
Prof. Schultz of the normal school urged
that the name of the discoverer should be
adopted for these rays, which he had mod
estly christened X rays, and proposed as
the name of tho new art skiography, which
he said was expressive and gave the true
meaning.
There was some further general talk
after which the spectators were dismissed
and short business session of the associa-
ton was held, at which the advisability OF
establishing a laboratory by the associa'
ton was discussed, as we'll as the changing
of the name of the association to the Acad.
envy of Sciences of Southern California.