Evening journal., 1897-08-07
LlaAr REELEcrsp BY EIREFLIgs.
Its Exast soVrce and Power the SUBJ
ject of Recent Investigations.

It's Exast source and Power the SUBJ
tect of Recent Investigations.
Prof. Muraoka, Of Toxic, has given
further details concerning his interest
ing investigation Of the luminous ra-
tliations emitted by firehies. 1t has
long been believed by many workers on
light, and especially on phosphorescent
light, that in the glow worm and the
irefy nature has indicated the true
solution OF the problem of producing
light without heat, and Prof Muraoka's
discoveries seem to lead TO new phases
of the subject. His inquiries were sug-
rested TO him by the resemblance of
| the light Of firehies to the huorescent
bodies, some of which have been shown
by II. Becquerel to emit radiations pos
sessing properties analogous to those
of the Roentgen rays. The expert
ments were made by placing number
of flies, varying from 300 to upward OF
900. in small fiat box, in which they
were confined undera net made of hemp.
| The box also contained a Photographic
dry plate, in contact with which were
plates of various metals - copper,
/ aluminium, zinc and brass-al of sim
! liar thickness, sheets of cardboard,
both entire and also with cruciform
patterns cut out of them. These were
sometimes interposed between the SEN
/, sitive plate and the metal and some
A., times used alone with the sensitive
nlate. Thin wooden boards were also
employed for the same purpose. The
sensitive plate and the objects in con-
tact with it were wrapped in several
thiclSnesses Of black paper and left in
the box with.the flies for two nights.
The experiments were made in pho
/ tographic darkroom, sunlight and ar.
tihcial light being carefully excluded
/ The sensitive plates, though thus
7 wrapped up and additionally protected
! by metallic plates and layers of card
board, gutta percha, cloth, silk, etc.
were always more or less blackened
Prof. Muraoka's experiments led to Tho
following conclusions: First, the ligh'
! of the flies in its original state behaves
, like ordinary light; second, the ligh
contains rays which pass through card
board metal plates, etc, and posses
properties analogous to those of Roent
gems rays or Becquerers fuorescen
rays; third, when the photograph
;, plate is covered with layers of card
= board it presents an appearance whicl
calls to mind the permeability of iroi
!, TO magnetic lines of force; fourth, tn
properties of these filtered rays ap
y pear to be Influenced by the material
i through which they have passed, per
T. haps by the thickness of the materials
n fifth, the properties possessed by tn
radations and specified under No.
n are apparently nonexistent or, at least
r undiscoverable until after filtration.
t, The Roentgen rays are similarly undis
]. covered until after "fltration"-
+ /. e.. through the glass of tn
= Crookes tubes-and "filtration" ma
perhaps afford n means of reI
a dering the X rays homogeneous
Sixth, the filtered FREELY rays undoubt
], edly admit of reflection. Refractior
+ interference and polarization could nc
be demonstrated. but Prof. Muraols
e is of the opinion that they took place
Il Seventh, the filtered FREELY rays seeI
to resemble Bucquere's Unforeseen
rays in possessing properties inter
mediate between the ultraviolet ray
and the Roentgen rays.-Atlanta Cor
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