The morning news., 1897-08-27
x-RAr IsA SKIN nEAurrFInR.
Electricians Prove That Il Softens
aud Clears the CuticIe.

AhN thF ufittts
From the New York World
The x-rays have been found TO have an
entirely new and unexpected u,ility. Sew
eral well known electricians have chancel
upon the discovery that .he action OF these
mysterious rays serve 20 Whueu ana soft
en- lman skin In several instances the
N-rays have proved more effective than
ony cosmetic, and very much more perma-
nenI fhis rSmarkable Thenomenon is
reported by Thomas Edison, and has also
been observed by Newton Harrison, editor
OF the Electrical Age.
The nature OF this action besides. has
been the subject of an exhaustive series
of experiments by Prof. Elhu Thompson.
II has been known for some time chat
the N-ray if allowed to act for any length
of time upon the skin, produce "a curious
form Of burn. Until recently, however.
those experimenting with these mysteH-
Gus beams have been much too busy to
stop TO investigate the phenomenon.
The N-ray burn, as il has been called,
resembles an ordinary burn or scald, and
has been supposed TO be more or less dan
gerous. 1t is this so-calied burning which,
II allowed to aci for a sutticient length
Of time, works such wonders in refining
and clearing the skin.
For some time Edison has been conduct
ing experiments with the X-rays in his
laboratory at Llewelyn park The work
has been carried on by four men under his
superntendence
A few weeks ago Mr. Edison decided that
ii would not be safe to subject himself to
the action of the rays. He found that the
skin of his hand was being slowly burned
away. one of the men employed in the
laboratory suffered even more from these
curious burns. his skin becoming wrinkled
and charred
After he had kept away from the N-rays
it was found that these burns healed very
rapidly. The skin which had been so dis
colored by the X-rays grew in again very
much softer and whittier than before.
To produce this effect has been the OBJ
Ject of all the makers of cosmetics for
centuries Edison pronounces the X-rays
a positive beautiher,
The most exact scientific knowledge on
the subject is that collected by Elihu
Thompson. Several theories have been
advanced to account for the X-ray burns.
one Of these is that the mischief is caused
by the ozone which Is always to be found
near the tubes. 1t is claimed by some that
the electricity has dsntegrating effect.
in order to set at rest these doubtful theo-
ries, Prof. Thompson carried out an ex-
haustive series of experiments with the
X-ray burns, cheerfuly giving himself up
as a sacrifice TO the cause.
lie found that the first effect after ex-
posing his arm to the light, was a slight
reddening of the skin This lasted for
two or three days and then began to fade
week passed without any pain being
felt. The ninth day the burnt portion be-
came irtrtated and the skin blistered. but
afterwards healed slowly
Ii viii, of course. have to be found by
experience just how these rays should be
be applied in order to produce the rejuve-
mating effects desired. Prof Thompson's
experiments showed that an exposure of
twelve minutes to the rays of Crooke
tube would serve to produce this effect.
He also found that the action of the rays
could be strengthened by placing a mag
net back of the hand or arm exposed to
the light.
The ray burn really serves 10 remove
the outer covering Of the skin, and al
low new and. therefore whittier and
purer skin TO grow in its place The X
ray may be compared to an exaggerated
case of sunburn. II is in reality cross
between regular scald and a scorch
The X-ray simply removes the outer Gu
ticle.
In order to understand this action the
tube must be considered as a miniature
battery, which discharges millions of NH
mute rays of immense penetrating power
When the X-ray strikes the skin, these
little projecties strike upon the flesh
like so many little hammers A few min
utes Of such bombardment serves to de-
str0y the outer cuticle, and expose a
red, inhamed surface. If the skin is ex-
posed to a hot fire it will Of course be
blstered, but the wound from a scad or
burn goes deeper into the flesh and. con-
sequently, on healing leaves a scar The
X-ray is merely the most refined way of
burning In the world.