The sun., 1897-04-25
BURNED BY THE X-RAYS.
EFFECT OF REPEATED EXPOSURE
ON KENTUCR POLICEMAN

After -Four Exposures for n Total or Two ana
n Quarter Mours Iieut. Jnckson's skin He
gan To Peel on and ISIS Hair to Fall Out
a Case In scotInnd-What Doctors say.
LEXINGTON. KY, April 23.-Lieut. John Jack
son, the giant OF the Lexington police force, is
suffering from an aggravated cesc OF dermatitis
as a result OF an exposure to tho N-rays. which
he underwent in the hope OF locating bullet
that he received while trying TO arrest negro
on Christmas eve. About twenty days ago tho
first exposure was made by Prof. NJ. a. Pence in
the physical department OF the State College. IL
lasted fifteen minutes, and was mado with,
rather n small plate. The second exposure was
mado few days later with similar plate and
for the same length OF time. On Saturday, April
g. the third exposure was made with a large plate
covering nearly the entire chest. The Crookcs
tube was placed about eight inches from tho
chest. An induction coil giving sIx-inch spark
was used, tho secondary current being Of about
half n million volts. Tho exposure lasted nm
hour and half and the bones OF tho shoul-
der, the vcrtebrn. and the ribs were
clearly defined, was the heart. but
the bullet was not located. On Monday.
April 8, another exposure was made with
the plate at his back. The Photographic screen
was used in this case, and the exposure lasted
only fifteen minutes. Tho same tube and the
same voltage were used us on the former cx-
posurcs. This exposure was more satisfactory
than its predecessors, showing the Lieutenants
collar button through the spinal column and
clearly defining his shirt studs hut the bullet
was not located
A few days after this last exposure, the skin
on his chest and back began to show signs of the
presence OF some powerful irritant and this con-
tinuod until the Cuticle disappeared from a large
area and the Inflammation extended to his neck,
face. mouth, right eye and scalp, with the result
that his hair is falling out and his beard has
ceased growing. Nearly half his mustache has
fallen out by the roots, and his mouth on the
right side is raw and infiamed. He is being
treated by physician who is giving him blood
medicine and is applying such soothing lotions
us are generally recommended for burns.
Lieut.. Jackson is about 30 years old, and
feet IL inches tall, weighs go pounds and is
giant In strength He is of temperate habits
and his physical condition before submitting to
the X-rays was apparently perfect with tho
exception of the wound produced by the bullet.
A case almos, identical with that of Lieut..
jackson has occurred in Scotland, in which
Prof T.. W. Reid OF Dundee suffered from derma-
tits in It's most aggravated form, after cx:.
period of two hours and half, just fifteen min
utcs longer than the total exposure In Lieut..
Jacksons case. The coil was somewhat larger,
as IL made tcn-inCh spark. and the CrOOkes
tube was only three inches from his waistcoat AS
case of Jackson. Thus the professor evidently
received much more violent exposure than
Lieut. aGEs9 x On: In r9 +. fGds case ana hss
was noticed Immediately beneath the position
OF the vacuum tube. and in addition. slight red
ness OF the skin OF the back over an area corre-
spending to the exit of the rays from the body.
The Professor, realizing that he had been in
jured, began TO rub lanolin on the irritated skin.
and continued TO do for two weeks. Vesicles
soon appeared. just as they did in Lieut.: Jack
son case, and gradually Soalcsced. SO that by
fnn nt.H q "a IA
SOC soon ans subsided & W within Seventeen days the cSti
Of Of a bright red color. which was raw
and Weeping, but not :, very painful. i
and protected from the friction, of the clothes
by a pad Of waddng The discharge next
became sero-purulent, and he lost some thirty
square inches of cu,icle. At the end Of twenty
seven days the surface was dry and in thirty
three days quite healed. On Jan: II last there
has he been troubled with shaving his chin
for the last six weeks. the hai having come out
by the bulbs at the touch of the razor twenty
preliminary erythema of the skin. not followed
by loss of cuticle.
Jackson is the apparent immunity of structures
deeper than the skin, His lungs do not appear
chest and back. 1t is believed that this phc-
nomenon may be connected with the fact that
the gas mixture in immediate contact with the
skin is richer. in oxygen than that in thepul-
monary alvcoi. and that the rays produce
tive oxygen. which Is capable, when present in
sufficient amount. OF destroying the cells, were
1t not that there is no evidence that the N-rays
do produce active oxygen. Skin structures, and
possibly the conjunttiva. at present appear to
be the only tissues on which action has been no.
ticcd Prof. Pence, when interviewed about the
ailment OF Lieut.. Jackson said:
e am loath TO believe that tho N-rays caused
the Lieutcnants trouble. IShave exposed my
little l2-year-old girl to the rays for a total
period Of time much greater than the Lieutcn-
ants exposures, and she has shawn no bad re-
suits. / have exposed number OF persons, old
and young, TO the rays, and the Lieutenant is
the first one to show even the faintcst symptoms
OF erythcma.
1t is the opinion OF various physicians inter
viewed that Lieut. Jackson, having very deli
cate. thin skin, Is much more susceptible to any
influences tending to produce crythcma than
persons having thicker and tougher cutirle.
One physician said il was very much like pOi-
sOning with poison ivy. Swarthy persons with
a thick skin can handle the ivy with impunity.
while those with thin skin and fair complexion
are very susceptible to its effects
Lieut.; Jackson Is still on duty. but is unable to
do any heavy work.
OTR PLOTTED RIG HTS IN CTR4