The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-13
RONTGEN'> RAYS.
FIRST PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT IN
CHICAGO.
1t Was a Success, and Those Present
Learned Much to Their Advan-
tage.

CHICAGO, Feb 1.-THE first practi-
cal experiment in Chicago with Ront-
gems rays was made yesterday after
noon by Electrician Charles E. ScrTbner
and Dr. James Bury, in the laboratory
of the Western Electric company.
Casper Schmidt came to the office Of
the Western Electric company COM
planning Of a sore spot in the region
of the palm of the hand. He said he
had been shot in the hand two years
ago, but was unable to locate the af-
fected part. After an hours exposure
20 the cathode rays, the sensitive plate
upon which rested the afflicted member
was taken TO the Photographic room.
When developed the plate disclosed a
most excellent likeness of the anatomy
of the hand and also What appeared TO
be
a BUCK SHOT
snugly ensconed between the metacar-
pal bones of the third and fourth fin
gers, about an inch and a half below
the knuckle. A silver print will be made
from the negative and the buck shot
will then be removed by DR.. Bury,
using the photograph, or shadowgraph,
as a guider.
DR.. BURY and Electrician Scribner
are justly enthusiastic over their sue
cess, and predict for the ''X' rays 4
vast field of usefulness, especially IN
the domain of medicine and surgery.
The experiment will be repeated today,
and new methods and improved appa-
ratus will be used. The result obtained
yesterday not only eclipses all former
results obtained by these investiga-
tons, but gives credentials to an i'm
proved process, which is probably orig
inal with the Chicago men.
In this experiment q lead diaphragm
is used, in which the aperture admit
ting the cathode rays was increased
from one half an inch to one inch. In
their investigations Messrs. Scribner
and BURY found that the German glass
of which the Crooke's tubes is COM
posed is almost opaque to
THE CATHODE RAY,
while aluminium is translucent. Lead,
however, is impervious to these rays.
Accordingly, a leaden diaphragm was
stretched between the cathode rays and
the object Swallowed photographed for
the purpose of concentrating the rays
and securing more defined outlines on
the sensitized plate. Great care was
taken yesterday to exclude white light
from the little room in which the eX-
pertinent was made. A heavy dark
cloth was thrown over the apparatus.
In the experiment the subject was
made to place his hand upon a piece
of thin cardboard. The hand was then
secured to the card, palm downward,
with colored ribbons, which were COW
cred with adhesive substance.
I'VE used colored ribbons said Mr..
Scribner, simply as an experiment to
see, if possible, how different colors
would affect the cathode rays
On the sensitized plate, strange to
say, the fabric of the ribbons could be
detected by close observation. The
hand was firmly banded to the card
board for the purpose of steadying it,
and to prevent moisture from being
communicated to the plate a yellow
paper was placed between the card
board and the plate. The cathode rays
were then turned on, about fifteen
inches from the hand, and in fifty-fve
minutes the plate was removed.
SIX VOLTS
of electricity were used in the expert
ment, being derived from a storage
battery. During the test the patient
felt no unpleasant sensations and the
plate disclosed no evidence of perspira-
ton.
The problem now resolves itself into
the discovery of improved means of
concentrating the cathode rays and of
securing translucent media through
which to pass them. In this color as
well as substance promises to play an
important part. Today Messrs. Serb
ner and BURY will probably try the
lead diaphragm with such improve
nents as occur to them based on the
experiments of yesterday.
zone of the recent improvements in
our methods" said Mr.. Scribner last
night, consists in placing the object
to be photographed close against the
plate. The first difficulty with that
plan was perspiration, due either to
heat or nervousness, blurring the plate.
The cardboard, however, seems to have
met the objection"