The morning times., 1896-02-17
New York Sum.

New York sun.
Boston, Feb. 16. -Investiga tors hereabouts
are pursuing their experiments with the Y
rays uulir.ngly. At The Institute OF Technol-
ogy The physicists have carried on The work
with rapidily.
Although iaboring under great difficulties
on account OF flaws that were found in
their Crookes tubes. they have found test
which proves Iaore conclusiveiy than the
test OF Rocntge himself fiat tie cathode
ray can penetrate wood, vulcanite, andmany
metals.
Working on the principle that charge Of
negative cleo ricity, which is placed on some
metallic so liam that scoBtainedina vacuum
tube will lac discharged wlcn exposed la The
sunlight, Dr. H. NJ. Goodwin has arranged
very thorough test of The properties Of the
cathode ray. Bymeans Ola sinpicelectrical
apparatus. consisting OF an ciec'roscope and
a thermopile. he has been able To charge his
sodium with a RegatiyequGntityCic.o
This was then discharged by theCathode rag,
which was separated from the tube contain
ing the eelccUFic charge by brass shield one
hair inch in thickness The Tay was made
TO penetrate The body and clothing OF
student. and caused the release of the
electric charge.
VERY SENSITIVE TEST.
The seusitivcness Of lhe test WAS shown
by the fact that the cathode ray dis
charged the charge of electricity on the
sodium at a distance of three feet, and
with a vulcanitc wall one inch thick sepa-
rating the ray from the vacuum tube con-
tanning the sodium. The scientific men
at the institute are inclined TO think that
Dr. GOcdwiu's discovery may lead 10 fur
ther discoveries as TO the nature of the
ray Itself. especially rs TO its wave leugth.
This test appears 10 put the cathode ray
side by side with the ultraviolet rays OF
the chemical spectrum. which have almost
the same effect as the cathode ray on the
negative charge OF electricity On the me-
tallic sodium.
DR.. Goodwin is 4 technology graduate
and has done considerable work in the
Investigation Of light rays. which accounts
for the quickness OF his discovery of the
new test for the cathode ray. The APP
paratus at the institute consists OF a
large inductive coil which is run on a
GoDstant current circuit and produces an
eight-inch spark through tie action OF an
automatic circuit breaker. The Crooles
tube consists Of a sealed glass bulb which
has been completely exhausted of air to
about ono-miIlionth of an atmosphere.
PRACTICAL IL SURGERY.
The first practical surgical application in
Boston through this news means OF phoiog-
raphy was made few days age at the
Institute OF Technology. TIE patient was
n young woman ia charge or Drs ManrOe Of
the City Hospital Her wrist, which had
been badly fractured, was l,iio5 ogra phed. and
Il very accurate picture or ali the broken
bones was obtained. Allie physicians were
greatly Interested in tile photograph, as it
served to corroborate the doctor diagnosis.
which had been dOJbted. As resalt OF this
experiment an extensive apparatus Will be
placed in the Ciiy Hospital, and a test Of the
applicability OF tlis photograph 10 surgical
operations will be made.
Prof Cross thinks that the rays emanating
tromthe cathode OF The Crookes tube are not
:he rays which penetrate aluminium, vul-
eaniteand brass, but that these eareDnknown
rays which are generated by tie contact
Ofthec ecaihoic rays with tiie glass softhetube.
He agrees with ROcntgen in calling these
unknown rays X rays and wishes to cor
rect the popular opinion shat the so-called
cathode rays which penetrate aluminium are
really the rays which come from the cathode
terminal OF the Crookes tube.
STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD.
He proves this by the fact that strong
magnetic field viii affect tie rays from
the cathode. while il win not affect the
rays which penetrate brass or aluminium.
Prof. Cross says that from DIR. Goodwin s
test it appears that tbe X rays Will be of
use to physicians, not only fer surgical
purposes, hut also for The discovery and
cure OF internal diseases. He thinks the
& ray, which PenetTates the human body.
might he used 10 XIII bacteria in the human
system. as il is well known that they can
not live under a powerful light. Expert
ments from his standpoint will soon be
made in tic meteorological department OF
the institute.
Prof. TTOwbridge OF Harvard has devoted
mach OF bis time during the past few weeks
toexperinIcniing witil thencw photography,
but he carefully guards his findings.
Later he wiz make them known in a
magazine article. he says:
1--WE are not trying TO photograph through
thicker substances TO obtain. for example
q clear image OF a bone or a solid in the
thickest part OF a mans body. All that
we have hitherto been able To accomplish
is to0btaiR images through & comparatively
thin body, because the cathode rays cannot
be developed strongly enough at present
10 do mech more Than they are now doing.
the trouble lies with the Crookes tube,
which is not strong enough to resist the
great electrical tension necessary 10 produce
the required results. This is u fault OF
tie material al the entrance OF the tube
which is sure to become heated with am
very great tension and break the tube"