New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-11
THE NEW CUSTOMS DETECTIVE
BAGGAGE AND POSTAL PACKAGES EXAM
1NED WITH x RAYS IN FRANCE

The ray Is being tried in a new role. The
chief function Of this invisible but inquisitive
agent Is to penetrate an Opaque body, and tell
you what Is inside. And hitherto its services
were acceptable alike to what may be called its
victim and to the operator. A child swallows the
family rat trap by accident. and is quite as
anxious as the doctor is to find out precisely
where the blooming thing has lodged. Or maybe
there's q bullet hidden away somewhere in the
tissues Of human being. having caromed half
a dozen times during its journey. and thus hav-
ing eluded the surgeons probe So. too, with
complicated fractures Of the what-do-you-
call-it.
But now the all-revealIng emanation OF the
vacuum tube has been called into service where
there Is, or at least may be, conflict OF inter-
ests. In other words, it has been invited to act
as a customs detective. Rumors Of this sort OF
thing have drifted across the Atlantic from
France two or three times within the last few
months But official confirmation has only been
received by the last mail. The latest Paris pa
pers supply full details Of the affair."
To a reporter of the Figaro" the Director
General of the French customs service gave
short but enthusiastic description Of his expert
r,ents A parcel to be examined, he said was
,ake INTO a room that had been darkened by
tho lowering of window curtains. 1t was placed
between the usual ray generator and fluoro-
scone arranged somewhat like an enormous
onora glass The latter was mounted on roll
ing trinod. On looking into this instrument. one
nerceiyed. pictured in shadow on the luminous
screen which took the place of the lenses, the
contents of the parcel under scrutiny.
CT was able this morning" said M. Pallain, the
official in question, ITO count the twenty-five
cigars contained in sealed box. by viewing 1t
andwise and sidewise l could the steel
snrires hidden in a velvet covered chair In a
nostal package. carefully sealed and substantial
~ wrapped | detected two superb cuff buttons.
"J recognize incalculable advantages in this
system. When people understand that dutiable
or,;c,es which are hidden in their clothing or in
sealed packages can be made manifest by means
of the X rays. they will hesitate about attempt
ing to defraud the revenue. On the other hand
a., rav ,nethod of examination will lessen the
.nrovonce which honest travellers are compelled
10 undergo There are some trfng difficulties
IN no met with in providing for the use OF the
annaratus at railway stations and the city gates,
hut these can be overcome. The plan seems to
no we'll adapted to use both for the local and
national customs"
Some of the newspapers, however, question
the efficacy Of the system. The "Gaulois" for
instance. after a bitter criticism of the typical
customs officer and an extended psychological
study Of him. refers to the new means which
he will employ. 1t then adds. cynically:
"He will see the coins in your leather purse.
the steel nails in your boots. the handle of your
toothbrush If it is Of bone, and the glass of your
watch. None of these, though. are dutiable. But
tobacco. matches, laces new goods and materi-
ais for clothing he can scarcely perceive because
they are all composed Of matter that Is trans
parent to the x rays. Having made the apart
ment absolutely dark, he will expose your par
GELS and yourself to these rays. which, you know,
are very baneful, and which burn the flesh like
the sun. Finally, upon the conclusion OF these
propitatory ceremonies. he leads you out into
the light and begs you to open your baggage in
order that he may see what the X rays have
not revealed Such is progress."'