Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-05
HUMAN HEARTBEATs SEEN.
Successful Experiments with the y
Ray ut Michigan University.

Successful Experiments with the y
Ray ut Michigan University.
An Ann Arbor 1lich) dispatch to the
Chicago Chronicle says:
Some remarkable experiments have been
conducted At the physical laboratory oil
Michigan University lately Professor ii.
$. Carhart had charge Of the experiments.
and was assisted by Dean V. C. Vaughan.
OF the medical department, and Drs. W.
J. Herdman and F. G. Novey. BY means
OF skllfully-contrived apparatus these
gentlemen and few invited guests were
able to see the heart pulsations Of n Nv
ing man and watch the play Of the bones
I'm various parts of the body when In mo
ton. II was a marvellous sight, and one
that inspired the less scientific beholders
with profound awe. when the guests en-
tered the room In which the experiments
were TO be tried there was nothing li
sight but a lot OF familiar electrical APP
paratus. ...,,
-Four cells Of a storage battery STOOD uh-
der the table. 4 resistance coil stood
ALONGSIDE. A few scraps Of insulated
wire a pair of Crookes tubes, and GU
rious-looking box completed the equip
ment 1t was soon explained that this
box was the important element IN the eA-
periment The spectator was 10 glue me-
ewes 10 the opening at the small end auu
,oolr hard at the black pasteboard IN
front Of him. The room was tneh da'N'
ened and the battery turned on, ne"
Crookes tube OF great power being put ~
the circuit. As soon as the box Was
turned toward the tube the inky dark
ness of the interior Of the box disappear
ga and the black pastehOard became
grayish white. Ike a pane Of ground
glass. -,
Professor Carhart then thrust his hand
between the tube. now brilliant with the
peculiar greenish phosphorescent Ign
that ACCOMPANIES the production Of the
X-ravs and every bone became distinct
~ visible on the pasteboard screen, sur
rounded by a cloudy outline showing the
limits of the fleshy covering. The N-ray
photograph Is shadowy, vague and I'M
satisfactory compared to the results OBJ
tanned in this new manner. The INN
nest gauze more Obscures an object 70
the eve in sunlight, than did the cover
inc of skin and muscle obscure the bones
in Professor Carhart's hand. Then his
wrist was put In and his arm 10 the
bow fexed and Strengthened. and th'
arm twisted back and forth. II was like
watching a skeleton in slight haze mys-
teriouslv endowed with the power Of self
emotion The clothing was no hindranc'
10 the vision. the rays passing through
clothing as readily as the naked flesh
Then DR. NOvy .ried a few objects n
the neld and finally sat before the tube
and allowed the spectators to count nj
ribs Suddenly IT was discovered tina
the heart was visible. and that It's pulsa'
lions could be watched and counted. The
heart was misty in outline, not distinc
ike the bones, but there 1t was. moving
regularly. and the spectator counted III
nulsations. while DR.. Herdman stoo'
VIII his finger on DIR. Novy's pulse I,
verify the count, and make sure 1t wa
not the flickering OF the light that mislet
the eye.
THE inside Of the screen 10 the curiou
hoy was covered with layer OF tungstat'
:, calcium. by means OF which layel
the X-rays were transferred Int
AVS Of light that affect the eye. thu
n,optng the X-ray visible. An effort vii
he made after awhile to fix larg
screen IN a doorway. so that all OF
torge audience In dark room can see thu
,,,c,ures simultaneously. the room sup
niontine the box. In this way the Who'll
sLela,on OF a man may. perhaps, b
shown at once. and at the same tim
walking about.