The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-29

From one of Roentgen's own negatives show
ing hand with rings one finger.l
plate. If the cathode waves would do
this, why would not the ''sound waves of
electrified air?'' The Roentgen expert
ments with the cathode rays showed that
the rays were produced in uneXampled
strength by the use of the Tesla converter,
through whose discharges the electrified
air. waves were produced. So Mr.. Tesla
very naturally tried the effect of his
"sound waves of electrified air, - with the
result of which have told. He was the first
to photograph the human brain, and
though he does not consider the photograph
n success he expects to improve on it. In
fact, he tells me he is progressing with his
experiments rapidly to the point where he
hopes to take instantaneous pictures with
the new ray. Up to this time the best re-
suits have been obtained with exposures
OF an hour or more.
Lenard's experiments with the cathode
ray stirred up the scientific world might
ly. He not only demonstrated the pos
sibility of bringing the now rays through
metals, but brought them through glass.
The glass was thin. though-thinner than
had been used in prior experiments.
Roentgen, as I have said, went one step
beyond Leonard. He discovered method
OF intenSifying the ray that it would
pass through plates of metal well
metal foil, through blocks of wood and
other thick, opaque substances. This gave
the discovery its practical value-its value
in surgery and other fields, in which efforts
are being made to apply it now. Roentgen
is entitled to all credit for his development
of the rays uses. But before him others
deserve some credit. and not the least
among these is Nikola Tesla, whose con-
verter is the medium through which all
the successful results have been obtained.
The ray has not been classified yet.
Lenard believes it is etherio. So does
Roentgen. Tesla hopes it is a longitude
nal sound wave. If it is etheric, he says,
its sphere of usefulness is limited. 1t will
probably never penetrate very great thick
nesses. If it is a sound wave, it can go
almost anywhere-through brick wall or
an iron safe.
Many Experimenters at Work.
Hundreds of American scientists are
busily at work on the Lenard- Roentgen
discovery. They regret that Tesla or Edi-.
son did not bring the credit of it to Amer
lea, but they are no less enthusiastic on
that account. They have determined that
some good shall come out of America in
connection with the discovery and they
are sitting up nights experimenting. If
the exact nature of the ray could be deter
mined, they could work more intelligently,
but they are no worse off in this respect
than arc the scientists of Germany and
England. So they are cropping about,
something by accident. Edison began at
the practical side of the business, as was
natural. Demonstrations of new scientific
facts appeal to Edison most when he can
see some means of applying them to the
work of man. So the first thing to which
Edison turned his mind was the invention
of some means of producing the new rays
without the use of the expensive Crookes
tube. Tesla began to work out means
of taking pictures instantaneously by the
new photography, and he has been engag-
ed in trying to classify the ray. Other
scientists have devoted their attention
especially to developing in the ray the re-
frangibleness of the ray of light. All
have repeated the spectacular experiments
made Observation-Disclosures the bones of
the living hands, etc.
1t would seem now to the unscientific
mind as though two things were most i'm
mediately important-to concentrate the
rays and increase their penetrating power.
A third result to be attained by long and
exhaustive experiments is to prove what
substances are transparent to the rays and
in what degree. But the American who
proves the possibility of taking direct
photograph instead of a shadow photograph
with the new rays will have his name link
ed with that of Lenard and Roentgen.
Now all that can be accomplished with
the new photography is to cast the shadow
of opaque substance on the sensitive
plate. When the cathode rays are propa-
gated through the hand, they find the flesh
and blood and skin transparent, but the
bones are opaque. So the outline of the
bones is traced on the sensitive plate.
This has it's value in surgery, and already
bullets and other foreign substances have
been located in mems hands by the new
photography. But it will reach a higher
stage of usefulness when the surface of the
bone can be photographed through the
flesh Possibly before this written word
sees type that wonder, too, will be devel-
oped.
Surgery seems likely to benefit most by
the new science. 1t has been suggested
that it can be used to detect flaws in metal
plates. Edison and others have suggested
that, as powerful rays of light kill bacilli,
the new ray might be a specific in some
diseases. This seems fantastic, yet moth
ing would have seemed more fantastic to
the mind of the average man year ago
than the suggestion that his skeleton could
be photographed before he died.
GEORGE cRANTHAM BAN.