The evening times., 1896-02-07


one of Crookes' tubes. This is n vacuum
OF aIr-uent gIass tube, through which an
induction tclectrlcaD current passes. and the
rays from the intense heat caused by the
current, which is known as radiant heat,
are thrown from the tuhe upon the obcjct
it is desired to photograph.
The scientific theory regarding opaque
objects has been practically overturned
by Prof, Roentgcn's discovery. 1t has ever
been the claim that there are ODE jets which
light will not penetrate.
NO OBJECT Is OPAQUE.
He claims that this newly-discoverod
process viii clearly show, even mere than
now, that there is no such thing Us an
opaque obejct. The penetrating power or
light, he claims, is regulated by its in
tensity and method OF use. The professor
further says he is convinced from facts
that the discovery has brought to his
knowledge concerning heat that the greater
uses of heat and electricity are not known
yet; that they are capable OF vast develop
ment. He is now carrying on in secret
series of experiments by which he believes
he will soon be able TO accomplish even
more wonderful feats OF photography.
The discovery was not surprise by any
means TO the scientific world. In fact, 1t
was not 4 discovery, but n mere perfection
Of experiments heretofore made. Two
years ago Prof. Shea OF the Catholic Uni
versity in this city conducted cxperiinents
along the same line In Berlin. but, like
others. failed OF gratifying results because
he could not get a proper focus OF the in
tense iigat rays on the object to he pictured.
II am very confident said Prof. C.
E. Munroe Of Columbian University, that
no experiments along the line of the new
discovery have been made in this City, and
very few in this country. They have been
repeated at Cambridge and Yale. believe,
and possibly at Johns Hopkins and the
Chicag go University, but there are few
laboratories In this country outside Of the
ones in these institutions where the expert
meuts might be followed up.
"wiil you yourself attempt it?''
"0h, no; such experiments lie In the
sphere of the physicist. and not the chem
ist. Complex metallic lenses must be had,
and more or less elaborate apparatus and
the light used to penetrate the object must
be sent through the pitch.
"wiIl not the discovery prove OF great i'm
portance to the medical world?''
..Yes. when ii is completed to practical
bility, 1t may afford excellent assistance to
the surgeon or physician. But people are
excited over it. There are plenty of other
discoveries in science equally as wonder
full. but they are not given equal prominence
with this, because Prof. Roentgen's expert
ments appeal to the ina gination and arouses
the curiosity of the masses
A REMARKABLE CASE.
Some OF the most remarkable negatives
have been secured by Prof. Roentgen. In
one instance he photographed man 'sankle,
wherein a bullet was imbeddc;l. The bones
of the ankle, with a dark spot designating
where the bullet lodged are revealed in the
photograph, while the flesh about the bones
and bullet appears in only soft. hazy
outline about these denser objects. Thus is
revealed what could only heretofore be
learned by the probing Of the surgeons in
struments.
In another case he subjected the human |
hand 10 the heat rays. In the picture result |
ing appears skeleton hand, the covering of |
flesh seeming TO have vanished as If by |
magic. Itmust be remembered, too, thatthis |
was not the hand of n dead person, but be- |
longed to n living, breathing man, the re- |
nIaindcr OF the arm being 50 screened and |
arranged as to be excluded from the focus |
OF the tube-camera.
One experimenter placed an ordinary |
iron weight in a box and after the latter |
had been exposed before the camera for |
an hour only the weight itself was to be
traced on the surface of the lens. The box,
in the picture. appeared to have vanished
into thin air. The same disposition seemed
to have been made of q purse that was
with coins inside. only the
coins were TO be seen in the picture.
An experiment that appears almost too
rema rkable to believe to be true. and
which illustrated with graphic cleaness
the eccentric power OF the new discovery,
was the photograph of n man sea ted beside
a young lady before the photographer in
dress, but whom the negative
shows a perfect skeleton. To test the clear
ness with which the new process would
reproduce the skeleton of living subject
negatives were also taken by the ordinary
method. In the first case the spinal yer.
ebrae were reproduced in every detail,
'orming a CHASTITY specimen of realism.
Prof. Arthur w. Wright, of Yale Uni
'ersity, made the first cathode photo
,raph in the United States. He has been
luite successful, and now has several pho
ographs of the skeleton of the living human
land.
PROF. WRIGHT s EXPERIMENT.
Prof. Wright used a Ruhnikorff induc-
ion coil about fourteen inches long and
i've inches in diameter. The current was
supplied by five Julian secondary batter
es. The poles of the coil are attached
o a Crookes tube.
Prof. Wright found that the most salts
actory results came from using the rays
rom the negative pole. The positive pole,
With its disc. keeps the rays from scat
ering. Prof Wright uses an ordinary sensi-
i've dry-plate. which is kept In case
uch as is always used; for these cathode
ays photograph right through the okonite
The case is laid on q table
With the Crookcs tube directly over it and
he object is laid on the case cover of
ubber. The tubes be kept five or, six
inches from the object. II
The new discovery, 1t is believed. win
rove a marvellous aid to the prospector.