The sun., 1897-05-09
THE ROENTGEN RAYS.
TESLl's sINTESTIG ATOMS INTO THEIR
HERTELL ACTION.


The rapidly extending use Of the Lenard and
Roentgcn tubos or Crookes bulbs as implements
OF the ply ysician, or as instruments of research
in laboratories, makes IL desirable, particularly
In view of the possibility of certain hurtful ac-
tions on the human tissues, to investigate the
nature of these influences, to ascertain the con-
ditions under which they are liable TO occur,
and-what is most important for the practitioner
Ito render all injury impossible by the obscrv-
anco or certain rules and the employment OF nm.
failing remedies.
No expcrimcnter need be dc;crrcd from using
freely the Rocntgen rays for fear OF poisonous
or decterious action, and il is entirely wrong to
give room to expressions Of kind such may
tend to impede the progress and create prcju.
dice against an already highly beneficial and
still moro promising discovery: but ii cannot be
denied that 1t Is equally uncomfortable to ig.
more dangers now when we know that, under
certain circumstances, they actually exist.
consider 1t the more necessary to be aware of
these dangers, as foresec the coming into gen.
eral use Of novel apparatus capable of develop
ing rays OF incomparably greater power.
In scientific laboratories the instruments are
usually In the hands of persons skilled In their
manipulation. and capable OF approximately
estimating the magnitude OF the effects. and the
omission OF necessary precautions Is, in the
be apprchended; but the physicians. who are
kecnly appreciating the immense benefits de-
rived from the proper application OF the new
principle. and the numerous amateurs who
fascinated by the beauty OF the novel manifesto
tions. who are all passionately bent upon expert
mentation in the newly opencd-up fields. but
many Of whom are naturally not armed with
the special knowledge OF the electrician--al OF
these are much in need of reliable information
from experts.
Ever since Prof. Roentgen's discovery was
made known have carried on investigations in
the direction indicated by him, and with per
fectcd apparatus. producing rays of much great
er intensity than it was possible 20 obtain with
the usual appliances. Commonly. my bulbs
were capable Of showing the shadow of hand
on a phosphorescent screen at distances OF forty
or fifty feet. or even more and to the action OF
these bulbs myself and several OF my
sistants were exposed for hours at
time, and although the exposures took place
every day, not the faintest hurtful action was
noted, as long as certain precautions were
taken. On the contrary, be 1t Il coincidence. or
an effect OF the rays, or the result OF some
ondary cause present in the operation OF the
bulbs-as, for example, the generation of ozone
my own health, and that OF two persons who
were daily under the influence OF the rays more
or less has materially improved. and. whatever
be the reason, it is fact that troublesome
cough with which was constantly afflicted has
entirely disappeared. similar improvement be-
ing observed on another person.
In carrying further my Investigations. !
gradually modified the apparatus in several
ways and Immediately had opportunities to
observe hurtful influences following the expos
urcs. lnquiring now what changes | had in.
troduced. found that had made three de-
partures from the plan originally followed:
First, the aluminium screen was not used: sec
ond. bulb was employed which, instead OF
aluminium. contained platinum. either as clcc.
trodc or impact plate: and third, the distances
at which he exposures took place were smaller
than usual.
1t did not require long time to ascertain that
the interposed aluminium sheet was very et.
b. exposed for a long time behind il without the
skin being reidencd. which otherwise invari-
ably and very quickly occurred. This fact i'm
the nature OF the hurtful influences, it in "a
large measure dependent either on an electro
static action. or elcctrhcatiun secondary
effects resulting. therefron. such As are al
tendant to the formation OF streamers This
could watch bulb for any length OF iime as
long "a he was holding the hand in front Of the
screen, with perfect immunity to all parts Of his
body, with the exception OF the hand. 1t like.
wise explained why burns were, produced in
some instances on the opposite side OF the body.
portions the directly exposed part OF the
bulb. and consequently subjected to by FAR
stronger rays. remained unaffected. Il also
G the
part ~ the body whenever an injurious action
took place. Finally this view agreed with the
numerous observations that the hurtful actions
occurred when air was present. clothing. how
ever thick. atfordiing no protection, while they
easily penetrated by the rays. but excluding all
contact OF ;he air with the skin. was used as II
preventive.
some time afterward observed other remark.
able actions at very small distances from power
fu l."nard tubes. For instance, the hand being
the skin seems to become tight, or else the mrs.
cles are stiffened. for some resistance Is expert
and closing it repeatedly the sensation dis.
appears. apparently no III effect remaining.
influence ii; on on I the ' nasal nj discharge organs organs
similar 10 the effects of cold just con.
'raG,ed But The mos. Interesting observation
powerful bulb Is watched FOR some time. the
head of the observer being brought very close.
peculiar that no one will fail to notice il when
once his attention Is called to IL it being almost
looiing at something like a cartridge. for in.
stance. in close and dangerous proximity. and
Just abon. TO explode. he will get good idea
case OF the cartridge one can not render
himself an, account where the feeling
exactly resides for it seems to extend all over
the body this indicating that II comes from u
general awareness OF danger resulting from pre-
vious and manifold experiences. and not from
the anticipation OF nm unpleasant impression
directly upon one OF the organs, as the eye or
the ear: but In the case Of the I.enard bulb, one
can at once, and with precision, locate the scnsa.
tion: II Is in the head. Now. this observation
might not be Of any value, except. perhaps in
view OF tho popularity and the acutcness OF tho
feeling. were It not that exactly the
same sensation is produced when working
for some time with a noisy spark gap.
or. in general. when exposing the car
TO sharp noises or explosions. Since it seems
impossible to imagine how the latter could cause
such n sensation In any other way except by di-
rectly impressng the organs OF hearing con.
Clude that a ltoentgcn or Lcnard tube. working
in perfect silence as II may, nevertheless pro-
duces violent explosions or reports and concus.
sons, which, though they are inaudiblc. take
some material efrect upon the bony structure Of
the head. Their inaudibity may to sufficiently
explained by the we'll founded assumption that
not the air. but some finer medium is concerned
in their propagation.
The Roenigen tube acts exactly like u source
OF intense heat. II one places the hand car TO u
red'hot stove he may he instantly, injured. II
he keeps the hand AT certain small distance. he
may be ablo 10 Withstand tho rays for few
minutes or more. and may still be injured ny
prolonged exposure; but II he rccrdes only
little further. where the heat is slightly less,
IA 4