The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1896-03-17
INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS.
Some New Theories as to the
Nature of the XRays.

New York. March 10-The Eec-
lectrlcsl Review will publish to-mor-
row communication from Nikola
Tesla describing for the first time his
very interesting experiments in radi-
ography. The scientific world has
been awaiting an expression of opin-
ion from Mr.. Tesla, who is known to
have begun his experiments within
an hour after the news of Prof. Roent
gems discovery was cabled to this
country. In connection with Mr..
Tesla's communication, the Electrical
Review prints two remarkable radio
graphs. One of these shows the right
shoulder of man taken through his
clothing, plate of glass three-six-
teenths of an inch thick, and two
inches of wood. This photograph,
which was m.de at distance of four
feet from the source>of the X-rays.
shows the ribs, shoulder bones and
bones of the upper arm. The other
Photograph shows a copper wire beat
to form the word "Roentgen," and
was made at distance of eleven feet
from the wooden side covering the
sensitized plate. Mr.. Tesla also states
that the rarefaction of Crookes tubes
used in these experiments may be in
creased by electrical means to any de-
gree desirable, far beyond that obtain
ably by mechanical appliances. This
method he describes.
In regard to the nature of X-rays
he says: 81 am getting more and more
convinced that we have to deal with a
stream of material particles, which
strike the sensitive plate with great
velocities. Taking as basis the es-
innate of Lord Kelvin ON the speed of
projected particles in Crookes bulb,
we arrive easily by the employment of
very high potentials to speeds of as
much as 100 kilometers second.
Now, again, the old question arises
Are the particles from the electrode
or from the charged surface, generally
including the case of an external cleo
trode, projected through the glass or
aluminium walls, or do they merely
hit the inner surface and cause par
ticles from the outside of the wall
to fly off, acting in a purely meohsn-
ical way, as when row of ivory balls
is struck? So far, most of the phe-
nomena indicate that they are pro-
jected through the wall of the bulb of
whatever material 1t may be, and 1
am seeking for still more conclusive
evidence IN this direction.
SIT now demonstrated beyond any
doubt that small metallic objects or
chalky deposits can be infalliably de-
tected in any part of the body"
Tesla has also secured photographs
showing the bony structure of birds
and rabbits even to the hollow bones
He has secured a radiograph of rabbit
after an hours exposure, in which not
only every detail of the skeleton is
visible. but also clear outline of the
abdominal cavity, location of the
lungs and the fur are shown. Radio
craps of large birds show the feathers
distinctly. In another instance an
exposure forty minutes gave radio
graph of the human skull, showing
clearly not only the outline, but the
cavity OF the eye, chin, cheek, nasal
bones, the lower jaw and connections
to the upper one, vertebral column
and connections to the skull, the flesh
and even the hair.
Mr.. Tesla concludes his communica-
ton in the following interesting
words: "By exposing the head to
powerful radiation strange effects have
been noted. For instance, l find there
is tendency TO sleep, and the time
seems to pass away quickly. There is
q general soothing effect, and 1 have
felt a sensation of warmth in the
upper part of the head. An assistant
independently confirmed the tendency
to sleep and quick lapse of time.
Should these remarkable effects be
verified by men with keener sense of
observation. shall still more firmly
believe in the existence of material
streams penetrating the skull. Thus
it may be possible by these strange
appliances to project a suitable chem
ical into any part of the body.-Cou-
rier-JourDal.