New-York tribune., 1896-01-31
ROENTGEN'S DISCOVERY.
FURTHER DETAILS AMI THEORIES.
THE NEW ro1,ND RAYS PENETRATE SUBSTANCES
IN PROPORTION TO THE DENSITY OF THE
IArrER-THEIR POSSIBLE USES

THE NEW FOUND RAYS PENETRATE SUBSTANCES
N PROPORTION TO THE DENSITY OF THE
LATTER-THEIR POSSIBLE Uses
Berlin JAN 1O.-At the semi-centenn!ai ceeora-
ton O. the founding OF the Berlin Physical Society,"
January 4 there was read a paper BY PROFESSOR
R3ntgen OF Wurzburg. Bavaria. describing his
remarkable discovery made a few days oefors.
Professor R6ntgen's discovery, besides being 0f the
II. most theoretic. importance In physics seems
capable OF being adapted to practical use III many
other branches OF science. especially OF medicine
Tho discovery consists in the finding OF set OF
invisible rays which emanate. together win v.siDe
ught rays from a vacuum-,ube through "hich Is
passlng tie electrical discharge fro"' powerful
nduct. .on-coll.
Professor ROntgen dscovered these rays IN ths
following simple manner. RE covered the Vacuum
,uhe w.,h thick black cardboard Vnich allowed
no isht TO pass through Il. and fo"na mat II
n,orescent substance were brought =" WITHIN SIX
feet OF the tube it would emit ta"i s'o"' liz
Intensity of which seemed to follow N~wions we'll
krown law of the Inverse squares As "nlt are
called fuorescent substances have the properly oi
ahsorbng Invisible rays while exposed TO ight.
and subsequently rtniernS them visplc III me
dark this faint glow convinced PROFESSOR f'o"'se"
that some form OF Invisible radiant energy was
passing through the heavy cardooar" covering "
the tube.
IIe next tried the effect OF these rays OF pho-
,ogranh,c plate and found that their action was
somewhat slia lar 20 that OF light THESE ihVsiois
rays would take a photograph. but IN most re-
markab,e manner for, while / Ght rays photograph
the exterior Only OF Opaque obiec's' these rays
oho,oeraph the exterior and Interior OF III nom
homogeneous substances.
Az an evidence of tliT singular property Fro-
f.-.o- R1ntqen gent 10 the Physical Society mo
photograph Of a human hand taken py means VI
these rays This photograph aroused the sied'est
interest as f. showed the skeleton OF 'he ha"a
framed In the faint outlines o. the "es"' n
second photograph. hardly .ess interesting; "ts
~ no let compass IN meta! case As ~ VIC
former instance the interior "aS pc.u:rl ~ urpi -
sbaiow than the exterior. lhus showing me mas
netic needle ant the graduated cree i'amed IN
The rinsc Of these and other phenomena IS ma,
whno ro ,n,terial seems be totally Opaque 10
these Invisible rays. substances aDsoIo .es anr, "a
nronor,ion to Their relative density ana tnicAhsss.
rms the bones OF the hahd cast neaNlsr snauow %
than flesh IN prop3r,iSn an. as IN 'e D'r9 man
~ - mention examples of the possible applica-
| tions OF m 2 discovery TO medicine ana suree's.
hic,nv. a,so the condition OF the internai
organs could be photographed as Al a'i u 'Ns"-
In fact. the value of Professor R9n gems $ d:s; 81
coYery as means 10 re .e bs ov"restlmated
rhough it is yet too soon &c pred 81 tne Ies ~ ~
10 De ~, wherever tee structure or constituents
OF heterogeneous substance Mhie1 oy ,~mnea .,s
| Professor Ront scove'y VIII be OF 'he s'ea'
est practical importance .. ..., hao, named
Th,s. S.bla rays. Wnlc1 nave VtS'i
| ,y rbeir disrover the * S,rahiem. or Rlys
are found have properties never before s
| IN nhysical research. They are neither rehec'ri,
rcfracied nor polarlzei and there seems 70 De no
| substance totally mpervious TO ihcm . ~,
| ,beorv ,hsf the rays are produced By ongtudinal
ibrlion OF the ether that IS - say. ny v;ofa @
y. 80 sngl.s 20 M Sc which produce iiSnt; mus
| 'heory ia ~ no means proved yet. nor 40 me
| data seem sufficient 20 warrant me & oa.: -.
! S,iII should Professor R0n;gen's hypotnesis 90
| nroved correc. this discovery would. from tneo.
reticaI po.n, ot view WORK an epoch IN the sceHos