The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-13
EDISON'S GIFT TO SCIENCE.
An Operating Table, with X-Ray
Lamp and Perpetual Vacuum Tube.

NEW YORK. April 12.-In a few days
Edison will give to the physicians of the
country combined perpetual vacuum pump,
X ray lamp and operating table. The plans
are now in the laboratory at Orange. and
the first machines will be constructed dur
ing the next week I'm time to be ready for
the exhibition by the electrical engineers to
be held In this city shortly. The plan of ex-
hausting the Crookes tube is the same as
has been used by all the electricians who
have experimental with the Roentgen rays.
The vacuum pump is attached to a wooden
upright about four feet high and exhausted
into vessel at the bottom and side of the
upright suction pump brings the mercury
into another tube and carries IL up until Ii
empties in.o the reservoir at the top of the
upright The pump used to raise the mer-
curry and force 1t up is operated by cleo
tric1ty, the same induction coil being used
to light the lamp and run the pump. which
can be started by the touching of a button.
Instead of the X ray lamp being concealed
In o ~ as viii bet baeed in 70 dis ads f
the upright and under table. The table
will also be an invention and novelty in
placed on castors and viii run in grooves.
The table will be quarter of an inch thick
and may or may not be covered with an
IIseptlc cioth. The light will be stationary
The patient to be operated upon will be
placed upon the table. which may be showed
forward backward in its grooves so
that the portion Of the body the physician
wishes to examine may be brought directly
over the ray lamps. The Horoscope
can then be adjusted to the eyes of the
operator beT,s and the e,d injury plainly seem
have found about the only practical use of
the X ray. The only thing that l can find
II Is applicable to is the science of surgery.
l am also positive that the x ray Is moth
ing more or less than sound wave. l will
be assailed upon all sides for saying so. but
i can lken IL. / have found that IL will not
pierce steel. but will go around the corner
For instance. II you place plate of STEEL
say four feet square. in front OF lamp and
get behind 1t with the microscope you can
see nothing. Go to the edge of the steel
and turn the microscope at an angle as
though to catch the rays turning around
fiuoroscent. showing that the rays travel like
sound waves. Again, when the fuoroscope
Is brilliantly fiuorescent the bones are not
shown sharply. At other times when the
Horoscope Is not brilliantly lighted, the
bones will be clearly defined. The fuores-
cence Is caused by the agitation Of the
crystals OF the tungstate.
"Another proof that the X ray is simply
sound wave Is that a sensitive flame is
agitated when the X ray is thrown upon
II. A sensitive flame will roar IL bunch
of keys are jinged twelve feet away from
Ii. on account Of the sound waves action
upon ii. This theory will not be accepted
by all, but those who do not care to accept
IL can go ahead on their own l am satisfied
that the X ray is SOUND wave.
AS to TeSlaS claim that he has been
able 10 see through the body. have seen
the photographs and they seem to be wrong
somewhere"