Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-19
FUTURE OF THE RoENTGES RAYS.
Scientists Think They VIII Prove OF
IncnIcuiabie Value.
C"Holland's" New York Letter in Phila-
delphia Press)

("Holland's" New York Letter in Phila-
delphia Press)
With little bulb similar in appearance
to. but only about half the size Of COM
mon Misunderstanding bulb. one of the
most distinguished physicians OF this city
explained this morning the difference be
tween transilluminatiOn and the Roentsen
process OF photography by the mystic rays
He did this that he might suggest the IN
tense interest which the Roentgen dis
coverv has awakened among physicians
and surgeons The glass bulb was held In
the hand 50 that when the fist was dOu-
bled I'D II was almost wholly concealed
from view. Then the electric current was
applied. and a beautiful glow Illuminated
the hand. making the flesh take on the
apparent tint or consistency OF the body
OF the glow worm, although the light was
much brighter and far more Deautiu
than Is that which illumlnes the body OF
the insect. But the bones OF the hand
and the articulation OF them were reveal
ed In skeleton outline rather dimly, with
the edges Of the dark lines not well de-
fined. but gradually shading into IN
bright tnts OF the electric-light Now, II
Il were possible by this simple apparatus
10 preserve Or TO imprison this shadow
upon a plate, then the physician said we
would get in this way what tne lNOrhtstH
ray promises to do for surgery
Transllumination. In the opinion OF this
eminent physician and others, pointed
the way. perhaps. indirectly or ,lncldent-
ally. TO the Roentgen discovery, as ii GER
tainly indicates to surgeons and physl-
clans the prodigOus value which there
may be for their profession in this dis
covery when it has been well captured
and perfected.
The common opinion here, as II has
been discovered by careful inquiry during
the past week among physicians, Is that
this discovery may possibly lead TO re-
suits which will cause 1t TO be ranked
with the most important, the most valu-
able discoveries for the benefit OF man
kind which have ever been made. That
opinion IL, perhaps, best illustrated by
some remarks made by Professor Chan
dler, one OF the first OF American chemi-
cal authorities. a practical employer OF
chamistry, as he was for many years
while In the service Of the New York
Board of Health. and the professor Of that
science at Columbia University.
THE GREATEST DISCOVERIES.
Professor Chandler declared that the
greatest discoveries of the nineteenth
century were, IN his opinion. not that
one made by Morse. or the kindred one
made by Bell; not the invention or the
steam-engine, or OK Fulton's paddle
Wheel but were-iirst, the discovery Of
anaesthetics and the employment Of that
agent In surgery, and next. the discovery
Of the antiseptic treatm5 nt OF wounds,
and subsequent 70 surgical operations
A physician whose name is known 70
the Engllsh-speaking world, but who
with that professional modesty which is
characteristic of the loyal eminent medi-
cal man. does not care 10 be quoted,
said that he was ready 10 confirm this
assertion OF Professor Chambers, and
no physician was found who was willing
to galnsay il. Professor Chambers ar
gument Is. that, inestmable as have been
the services of the steam-engine and OF
electricity as a means for swiftly con-
veying intelligence, and for other COM
mercial uses. nevertheless. had these
forces remained unuulzed, the human
race would have got along fairly well.
just as 1t did before Watt and Stephen
son and Fulton and Morse and Bell were
born. They have vastly increased the
wealth Of the world, as they have also
changed mems disposition. SO that now
what is a necessity Of life would earlier
in the century have bsen deemed luxu-
ries But anaesthetlcs and antIseptic
dressings have elleviated the sufferings
OF men. and have warded nhem altogether
of I'm such manner and such extent as
Is almost inconceivable. Furthermore,
the antiseptic dressing has made modern
surgery possible, and the knife, which
before was almost as sure an agent OF
death as disease or accident, has by this
process become a kindly agent, saving
hundreds OF thousands of human lives,
and saving them without suffering
Therefore, II Is Professor Chambers
opinion that IL the science which has
the preservation OF life and the restora-
ton OF health and the amelioration OF
suffering Is fairly to be regarded as the
most important OF all sciences for mans
welfare, then Ii cannot be denied that
the discoverer Of the utility OF anaes-
thetics In surgery and the discoverer Of
antiseptic treatment must rank with the