The San Francisco call., 1896-02-23
uated for boat racing and that the future
regattas should be held there.
PIERCED WOOD AND SKIN.
extraordinary Success at Berkeley With
the Keen Cathode Ray.

the Keen Cathode Ray.
BERKELEY, CAL, Feb. 22.-Some
very successful experiments with cathode
ray photography took place to-day at the
University of California under the SUPER
VISION and personal direction of Professors
Cory, Christy, Slate and Instructors LIE
Conte and Drew. The work done to-day
was a continuation of that commenced
yesterday, only Oh a grander and more
scientific scale.
Today the experimentalistSh had at their
service apparatus more suited to the sue
cessful accomplishment of tests than yes
terday and the experience which they had
gained IN former attempts served them 10
good purpose in the efforts of to-day
One thing which made the tests TODAY
OF such remarkable success was the fact
| that they had in use number of original
Crookes tubes. Yesterday they used
twenty-six plates at an exposure OF twenty
hVe minutes when the one Crooke's tube
which they used failed on account of the
uEsteadiness Of the electrical current.
The negative was under-exposed, but it
showed clearly shadows of an iron and
platinum spatula, coil and a coin, and a
faint SHADOW of the wooden base of the
tube. In the other experiments yesterday
incandesCent and genicler tubes were used.
1t was discovered soon, however, that tie
Crookes tubes were the only ones with
VIII ich they could hope to attain success.
This morning their efforts were renewed
and at the end OF five hours work photo
graphs equaling almost any that have vet
been made by the use OF the cathode ray
were produced. With the use of the DOW
erfuI electric current furnished by the
bTi
gether with the Crookes tubes, which they
by chance had on hand, they accom-
plished results of the most hattering
nature.
An ordinary purse belonging ITO DIR.
Joseph lie Conte containing several
coins OF small denomination was placed in
front OF the ray. After an exposure of one
hour the Photographic plate showed the
coins within and the metallic clasp with
remarkable distinctness, while the leathern
purse itself appeared as mere dark haze.
A dead gopher was also taken, and, after
an exposure for period OF time equal to
that expended on the purse, the plate
showed the skeleton of the rodent with al
most perfect clearness, while the hair,
skin and teshy part appeared as if made
of gauZe.
Following these, photographs were
taken through wood of various kinds, and
through a number CT metals, such as
inium.
In making these experiments large in
ductlon coll was used without make and
break piece current sent through the
primary. No make and break piece was
used at all, but an alternating current of
100 volts pressure. The Westing ghouse al.
ternate pressure of 1000 volts current fur
nished by the dynamos was led over to
pair Of transformers.
This reduced the pressure to 100 volts.
The 100-volJ alternating current led to the
primary of the induction coil. The Sec
ondary OF the induction coil was connected
to each end OF the Crookes tubes. The 100
volt alternating current was varied at will
by resistance which could vary the effect
In the tube. This was used in the alter
mating primary circuit. The apparatus
taken altogether was very similar to that
| used by Roentgen, with the exception
that ali alternating current instead of an
interrupted current was used. The diff
Guilty found with the interrupted current
which was used yesterday was that the
spark al the breakplece was too violent
and caused the destruction of the tubes.
Before the final and most successful eX-
pertinent yesterday was finished the tube
broke with an exposure OF only twenty-five
! or thirty minutes. To-day with the alter
| mating current and the Crookes tube sew
| eral exposures of over an hour were made.
An attempt was made to photograph the
| skeleton OF nSh, but the ray went through
| its body with such intensity that it APP
| peared perfectly transparent. DR.. Joseph
LIE Conte said that this result was due to
| the imperfectly calcitied bones of the fish.
| The experimenters considered them
| selves fortunate in having on hand q
| number Of Crookes tubes, for they realize
| that the results of their work would not
| have been near so successful without them.
The tubes were secured by DR.. John LIE
| Conte fourteen or fifteen years ago and lay
unused in the storeroonl until yesterd ay.
| An attempt was made to photograph car
| bonic acid, with view to determining the
| relative density between it and other sub
| stances of similar nature. but the ex-
pertinent was without satisfactory results.
| Those directly interested in the pursu-
ance of the experimental work with the
| cathode ray at the university are most en-
| thusastic in their remarks concerning the
results already accom- plished and the pros.
! poets which lie before them.
1--WE have made good start" said DR..
LIE Conte to-nig ht, land there seems to be
| no reason why we cannot do Just as Success
full work with our apparatus as any one
anywhere else. We have most excellent
electrical service and as for the mach inery
and all the accessory apparatus, it is at
our disposal. We will IN all probability
prosecute our work vigorously. I think
we will take it up again next Monday
where wei eft off to-day"