The evening times., 1896-02-13
Especial to The Times.)

Especial to The Times.l
New York, Feb. 13.-While eXpcr l.
menting with the Rocntgen cathode rays
yesterday, Edison discovered that alumni
mum could be made as hard as steel. Many
experiments were made during the day
and i'll the course OF one the Wizard no
ticed that the aluminium electrodes, which
were so soft when placed In the Crookes
tube that they could readily be bent with
the fingers, became so hardeaed and tenn
percd after they had been in use for some
time that the strongest man in the labora-
tory could not bend or break them. They
were as hard rs steel, though retaining
their original likeness.
When the discovery was made the query
ran through the laboratory, Has Edison
found the lost art OF tempering copper and
similar metals? Mr.. Edison has an idea
that the hardening was produced by the
absorption By the aluminium or the oxygen
in the air in the tube.
TRIED ANOTHER EXPERIMENT.
In another experiment Mr.. Edison n oticed
that tube made with a 10 W vacuum. after
being in use, changed To a higher vacuum
until every particle OF air in IL disappeared.
The only explana ton he could give was that
the air Particles became deComposed, the
oxygen probably uniting with the aluminium
and the hydrogen being forced through the
molecular sraces OF the glass.
Interest in this discovery was heightened
by the fact that the Wizard was cioscied for
some time with his patent lawyer. 1t was
said that he intended to apply for patent
on the process IL 1t proves patentable,
aar l Z I,afa
visit was in reference 10 the patentiug
of u means to send pictures by telegraph,
Just a. messages are wired every day.
Neither MI Edison nor his lawyer would
discuss the matter.
A S usual Mr.. Edison received an arnful of
letters from persons who have fractured
limbs or bullets in their bodies, and want
him 10 turn the Roentgcn rays on them and
let them know just where and what the
trouble is.
PICTURES BY WIRE.
Orange. y. J.. Feb. I3-The frequently
suggested scheme OF sending pictures by
telegraph! ma : become an aciual fact through
the means of Roentgen rays.
To ascertain the possibilities OF such a
plan, Thomas a. Edison is experimenting
at his uewelIyn Park laboratory with a
view TO determining if the X-rays may be
sent over a wire in the same manner as
electricity. II this fact is established. Mr..
Edison says the scheme for telcgra phing
photographs will be within the range OF
probability. and that art may become one OF
the wonders OF The nineteenth century.
In dealing with X-rays." says the in
ventor, I'VE have to do with a force Alto
ata afr
and the same conditions do not apply. We
tried this afternoon to transfer the image
of photograph to a plate by means of the
fluorescent rays. and found three indefi-
mite images on the plate. 1t may he. how
ever, that with different materials in the
plates. and some other kind of photograph
paper, we Will he able some time TO transfer
pictures as easily through a substance inn
peryious to light as it is now to transfer an
image from one bromide plate TO another
by ordinary sunlight
WAITING FOR STRONG RAYS.
Mr.. Edison has not vet made arrange
ments for attempting TO photograph the
interior OF human head, although he de-
cIares be inteHds doing so. and is cnly wait
ing to get rays strong enough TO penetrate
the skull readily. what the results will
be he does not prctend to say.
An important discovery made by the
wizard is that the Pickering of the
local, controlled by the vacuum in the bulb.
and not by the force or fluctuation OF the
electric current, as has been supposed.
New York. Feb. I3.-Edward p. Thomp-
son, a consulting electrical engineer. who
- .,,Ex
gems discovery, asserts that ne has dis
covered a process whereby motion, other
wise invisible, might he observed with the
use OF the new Y rays. The movements OF
4 watch can he observed through the case,
and the operation OF the interior organs OF
a living human being OF animal be made
visible.
The value of such a discovery TO the
science of surgery and medicine may be
imagined from the claim OF the inventor,
when it is said that with it the action OF
the heart and the digestion of food can he
observed.
THE DISCOVERIES EXPLANATION.
In the process as carried out by Rcent-
gen, the effect OF the cathode rays after
passing through opaque objects must be
great deal Of time is occupied by the ex-
posure and the obtaining of the picture"
said Mr.. Thompson.
by my process 1t is intended that OBJ
jects ordinarily invisible may be examined
instantly, and especially that motion may
be represented to the eye.
Again, with powerful rays it ought to
lie possible with this process to see the
action Of muscles and joints when ones
finger is bent; or to be able to distin-
guish sprain from a break by moving the
arm back and forth or to see the circulation
of the blood, the beating OF the heart, and
the motion of sap In trees and plants and
of all other objects which at present can
not be observed.
Photography is not used in any connec-
ton with these experiments, and the fig
ures which you observe are made by throw
ing the shadows of the invisible moving par
ticles by the X-rays upon platinocyanide in
the end of dark tube"