Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-03-26
EpIsOM,s NEW CRYSTAL.
Claims That 1t VIII Make Organs Ia the
Boay Trans parent.

Claims That 1t VIII Make Organs In the
BoGy Transparent.
Thomas A. Edison announces q dis
covery that goes far beyond the limita-
tons of the wonderful Horoscope.
He has at last found a crystal that
will transform the strange rays discoy-
cred by Roentgen into light that will
make every organ Of the human body
transparent and every delicate tissue
distinctly visible.
In the Horoscope the wizard discov-
cred a practical utility for the X rays.
Long before he perfected this invention
he realized that its possibilities would
be confined to a revelation Of the bony
structure Of the human body. Tungstate
Of calcium, which he used in this in
strument, though more powerful than
the original crystals Of platinocyanide
Of barium, discovered by Roentgen, was
yet not sensitive enough to show more
than mere outline of such solid organs
as the heart and lungs.
Mr.. Edison determined, if possible,
to find crystal so powerful as to pere-
trate the innermost recesses of the body.
For months he has been experimenting
on this line, and has at last discovered
substance with the requisite quality.
He will not reveal its name until he has
exhausted its possibilities.
1t is probable that when he does per-
feet this newest discovery it will enable
physicians to detect the slightest de-
rangement of the system.
These crystals are so sensitive that
when they are placed in front of man
whose eyes are tightly bandaged he is
able to see. And this suggests boon to
the blind. Indeed it is possible there
will be no more blindness.
Mr.. Edison says of his work:
"For the last six months l have been
experimenting for the production Of
chemical crystals which should have the
peculiar property Of giving out light
when subjected to the action of that
strange force called, Professionally, the
Roentgen Y ray. l purchased in this
country and in Europe all the known
chemicals which did not already have
in my own laboratory These were all
tried in the Horoscope, but only one
was found equal in sensitiyeness to
tungstate Of calcium. Chemical COM
binations not procurable elsewhere We're
produced and subjected to the instru-
ment.
my chemists have been averaging 30
new chemical substances a day, and
every one of these has Iocn measured 10
determine its fiuorocscing power, if any.
AT last ! found one chemical com
bination more sensitive to the X ray
than any known substance But am
not through as long as there is hope Of
finding something still better.
1.-THE chances Of such discovery will
practically never be exhausted. The
number Of possible combinations with
chemicals runs into hundreds of mil
lions.
There is no doubt that the huoro-
scope will become an instrument Of
great value TO the surgeon. 1t will en-.
able him to make accurate diagnoses Of
the internal organs. "
The recent discovery Of French
chemist may have an important bearing
upon Mr.. Edison's experiments. Bee
qucrel has found that certain crystals
Of the salts Of the metal uranium, when
subjected 10 the action of sunlight and
then exposed in a dark room, will give
off new and hitherto unknown light,
possessing the characteristic property Of
the y ray to penetrate opaque sub
stances.
Il am very much interested in Bee
querel's work, - said the wizard. The
rays from these salts Of uranium pCne-
trate opaque objects and give pho
tographic impressions. Other chemists
have discovered that other crystals,
among them white sugar, have the same
property. The strange aud curious re-
suits Of these experiments may add ma
terially to our knowledge of the unseen
world about Us.
ITO know that by the action Of the
light which streams in upon our dining
table some wonderful change is wrought
by the sugar in the bowl, and that an
unknown ray radiates therefrom through
our bodies and out into space, produc-
ing who knows what changes, at least
indicates that science is entering into a
new and wonderful field, full of the
possibilities Of great and be1efcent dis
covery. New York Journal.