The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-29
Cuban Editor Who IS Scared to Death and
Can't Sleep "a Wink.

/
London, Jan. 2S.-Never in the history
of science has a great discovery re-
| ceived such prompt recognition and
been so quickly utilized in a practical
| way as the new photography which
| Professor ROutgen gave to the world
only three weeks ago. Already it has
been successfully used by European
! surgeons in locating bullets and other
| foreign substances in human hands.
| arms and legs, and in diagnosing dis
! eases of bones in various parts of the
! body. 1t is almost an old story now,
in its first features, and these seemingly
miraculous photographs are easily pro-
| duced in many physical labora tories,
while the technical journals are publish
ing reproductions in their pages.
The fact that only 4 faint idea has
yet been gained of the practical posi-
! bilities OF this discovery is already prov
en-, and il is difficult to keep pace with
the astonishing supplementary disclo-
sures. The most important of these Is
the application OF the new agent to
metallurgy. 1t has been found that, al
though most metals are apparently
Opaque to the rays of this strange light
or force, yet any internal defects or lack
of homogeneity in them are quickly de-
tected and recorded in the telltale plate
The sensativeness and accuracy OF the
negatives in this respect are described
as marvellous. No two metals are alike
under this new test. Lead proves to be
almost as transparent as aluminium
and wool.
Hitherto It has been impossible with
out a complicated process to test the
uniformity Of the structure of metal
work, for instance gun barrels. iron
rules and railway wheels, or distin-
guish at sight different varieties Of iron
and steel. All this, it is anticipate
viii shortly be achieved by the help of
this new photography. 1t is no exag-
geration to say that this would mean
complete revolution of many branches
Of metallic industry, especially in the
manufacture of arms.
Exact reproductions have been OBJ
taired of inscriptions or relief drawings
on signet rings and metallic surfaces.
To the great astOnishment of the exper-
imenterS x has been found that metallic
objects exposed TO Routgen's rays show
in the Photographic reproduction all the
inequalities that exist in the structure
of the metals, such as fractures and vay
tiles. This quality therists recognize as
being due 10 the great SenSatiVeneSS of
the rays to the variations in thickness.
All alloys on composite metals-and
most of those used in the manufacture
of arms are comprehension on the
plate whether they are
completely homogeneous throughout. |
and where and to what extent. One me-
tai, for instance, zinc or copper, in the
SO-called stDeet-bronZe cannon. has not
thoroughly amalgamated with the 9TH |
er. Owing 10 the intensity of the photo |
graphic pictures obtained by the new
rays, carbon is readily distinguished |
from iron; hence It viii be possible to |
recognize the quality of the iIon or /
steel that has been depicted. They Will |
also probably furnish a simple method |
Of control in the Bessemer process.
The inference from the latest exDar- |
iments Is that nothing is absolutely |
impenetrable 10 these strange rays.
There are only varying degrees Of trans |
parency or opacity. Professor Ron--
gen took a photograph the other day OF |
a large metal plate. which had been |
broken in various pieces. welded to- /
Sether, and 50 carefully joined togeth- /
er that the lines Of fracture were i'm /
perCeptlble under the strongest ordiua-
~ light The so-Caleld y -avs made !
them as plain as day on the photo /
graph.
Professor Czermark Of Graz succeed /
ed IN photoEraphinE a living skull with
out Its neSly inteEument The editor Of
the Grazer Tageblart offered his head /
Tor the purpose When he saw the re-
suit he positively refused 10 allow the
picture 10 be produced or shown 10 any
one except men Of science. l. : report
ed that he has not slept wink since
be saw his own deaths head.
The important fact has hem mem
toned that these strange new rays are
incapable OF being DETECTED bv auv
substance. Professor RontSan deduC-
es from this that perhaps the rays move
with the same velocity in ali bodies and |
IN some all-pervadinE medium with
which the molecules Of all bodies must
be surrounded. No effect could be Oh
served on these rays by magnetic in
fuence, from which fact RontEa1 ar
CUES that they differ from the cathode
rays investigated by Lena-d.
To me question what are these ravs /
Z lneE are not cathode rays. Professor
Rontsen brings forward the bvDorAs-
SIS that possibly their existence may
* aScr-oed - lonS-tudaI waves in The
AlneF existence o. such waves. aS ana-t |
rom the transverse vibrations. which
account Tor the phenomena Of light.
This has before now. from -hlo-at5Csl
'orsi6erati tons been SUSPECTED f,,- nv
,lciStS, although there has been no ~
detrimental evidence Yet brought FOR
ward 20 show their existence. II his
hould. on fuller inveStica ton. really
urn out 70 be the case. and that ~. y
avs Of Professor Roatgen are really
-ue 80 such longjtasial vibrations.
-reat step forw&ri VIII have been made
y me theoretical grounds Of wave mo-
, II ne eonceit was taken Ggt Of some PEG.
PC mere wouldn't be enough of EN- lett 70
.-LS Clothes on--Tcxas SiftilEs.