Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-01-21
OZARK LIGHT"
Many Substances Generate Rays Thai
Affect Sensitive Plates.

Another startling discovery has been
made in the realm of invisible rays, and
independently verified by different ex'
perimenters, namely, that many SUBJ
stances which we have been in the habit
Of regarding as inert are constantly
emitting invisible rays in the absence
of other light, which rays possess
actinic power and therefore are capable
Of affecting sensitive Photographic
plates. Some six months ago the emf
nent French Investigator. Beequerel,
discovered that the element uranium
when exposed to brilliant light stored
up during this period energy which was
either transferred into rays of other
kinds or else emitted in its original In
eident form, when the substance was
placed in absolute darkness. Moreover,
these rays possessed remarkable pow
ers of penetrating light, Opaque SUBJ
stances, X ray like. DR.. Russell in
paper recently read before the Royal
Society of London described how in
repeating Beequereps experiments he
discovered that this particular action
is by no means confined to uranium
salts, but that many Of the metals and
other bodies, such as wood, charcoal
copal, straw, etc, possess it in marked
degree. The radiations from these
bodies, however, differ in one very i'm.
portant particular from those given out
by the uranium compounds. While the
latter readily pass through glass the
former are completely stopped by it.
Starting With The metals, mercury,
zinc, magnesium, cadmium, Nickel
aluminium, pewter, fusible metal, bis.
muth, tin, cobalt and antimony, he
found that all these, after q weeks ex.
posure near a sensitive plate in the
dark, every precaution being taken to
exclude extraneous light, produced a
distinct effect upon the plate, while
gold, iron and copper only showed a
very slight effect. The fact has been
known for long time that certain SUBJ
stances when placed in contact with a
sensitive film for long time will show
traces of their outline in the develop.
ment of the plate. This phenomenon
has never been satisfactorily explained
DR.. Russells results, however, are moi
based on this principle, as in one in
stance a polished surface of zinc with
q design scratched on it gave distinct
image of the markings when not touch
ing the plate, and even when thin
screens of gutta percha or celluloid
were interposed between the sensitive
plate and the zinc surface. In another
set of experiments cardboard pill boxes
used for inclosing certain substances
before the experiments, were found tC
be quite active themselves in emitting
these remarkable radiations, imprint
ing most distinct image of themselves
Different qualities of cardboard Civ,
varying results. The better kinds act
ed but family, while cheaper kinds
such as strawboard, were very active
In the same way certain printing ink
gave very good impressions on tn
plate, while Others were altogethe
inert.
AS regards the conditions anectlnt
the emission of these radiations, it |
known that heat increases their actiy
ity, and the water vapor in no way as
sists their action. Their source is
mystery. Some form of potential ener
gy stored up in the active bodies pos
sesses the power Of generating, througI
what medium has not even been SUI
missed, rays quite as remarkable as tn
: Roentgen rays, and possessing in a lin
tied degree many of their characters
: tic properties. Probably their natur
is akin to what has paradoxically bee
styled, dark light."-Chicago Chror
icle