The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-16

From the New York Herald. Photographing objects on the inside of a house from outside it's walls is a prop osition that would have rushed the pro- poser to the witchs stake a couple of centuries or so ago. but viewed in the light of new discoveries, 1t would seem to be quite within the bounds of scien- tiflc development in the immediate future if science continues to march in it's pro- gross at it's present tremendous gallop. For instance. though the superstitious corner of your material makeup is in- clined to conJure recollections of black art tales when you are permitted to see the picture of a man which was taken through his body and without 8 camera, the plate being in it's Tight proof hold CT, you must admit it as a tangible thing when you see it actually done. And when you learn that this mechan- ically produced light passes through mans body without being impeded by bones. flesh. clothing or anything else you feel inclined to accept the statement that it will go through a brick wall just as readily. It's operation at the dictation of man seems almost uncanny, and there is no wonder that the suspicion of magic tinges the reluctant belief and is finally dispelled by positive demonstration.
 It was while experimenting on altogeth- CT different lines-with an object in view that had no thought of photography even dimly connected with it-that this and other phenomena were discovered by Dr. l T. w. Topham, of Brooklyn an assidu- ous student of electrical therapeutics. In the course of his experiments he pro- duced a violet ray'' of intensity and penetrative qualities which were marvel 1 ous In testing the penetration of this light, resembling, in way, the Roentgen l or x ray, some peculiar results were ob- l tained all of which paradoxically show that the ray Is unlike the Roentgen, while possessing it's attributes carried to su- perlative degree.
 l One of the first experiments was con ducted in a dark room. It was Dr. Top hams purpose to ascertain definitely that his ray would penetrate the human i body.
 Ray Pierced Body and Plate Holder. A photographs plate, still In It's hold l CT, the rubber side in position, was placed l behind him. The "violet ray" was quick 1 ly flashed and extinguished again in front of him. After development the plate showed positive or perfect picture, like that usually printed on sem sitfzed paper from a plate, and the re- verse of the ordinary photographic neg ative. This plate, of course, prints negative" with the lights where the shadows are in ordinary procedure. But proved the theory by that very reversal. Another interesting test followed. Un- der the hand a coin was placed on the outside of closed plate holder, which contained an exposed plate. The ray was flashed for an instant and the plate was taken to the developing tray. As -lo fv1fn 10 emulsion, they traced an astonishing picture.
 Here was the hand showing not, as in the case of Roentgen ray exposures, O chart of relative density of flesh, bone and metal but picture of the flesh par ticles as well, and. still more amazing, a perfect replica of the coin, with all its lines and marks accurately portrayed
 If the x ray had been used, the coin would have showed simply as disk of dark shadow In x ray picture making the object is held directly upon plate and the exposure is not instantaneous. Subsequent trials with coins resulted | in protecting both obverse and reverse | at once upon a plate by the same pro- | cess showing that the ray went clear through the coin. Delighted With the demonstration of his success, Dr. Top ham continued at the novel diversion that was telling him new wonders at
 
 The ray would penetrate-that he knew now-but how far? Would any kind of matter offer G resistence to this light that could be projected through dense materials as easily as daylight through an open window2 The scientist Was reused and he kept on offering his agent of light transmission new problems to solve.
 A pamphlet was "exposed' in the same manner The print of the first page was carrieu to the plate as readily as that on the last page. Coins were outlined below 1t with no difficulty at all Neither was there more obstruction to this light that would not be denied when the hand was placed on top of the pamphlet and coins.
 Protected through a horoscope of tun- state of calcium the ray went straight to the concealed plate, showing re- markable tendency to assume the shape of an almost innumerable galaxy Of stars, each with the peculiarity of hav- ing nine well defined points, whether large or small.
 Through a beefsteak the ray showed the molecular composition of the meat and also of the bone, again elaborating the process of the Roentgen test, which would have merely shown each substance in its relative density.
 Basic Principles of the Ray.
 Satisfied at last, Dr. Topharn put aside his '.pastime" for the more serious work of his main purpose, that of curing by method which, he says, is old in the in- eipiency of its theory, yet extremely young in It's applicable efficiency. ,
 "The attempt to adapt the purple or violet ray to use as curative agent, says Dr. Topham, "came prominently to light with the once famous blue grass treatment That died, though 1t fingered as a public jest for long time. Later school of chromeopathy was founded in New Jersey, which I believe, declined to lack for support
 '.In my study of electrical therapeutics, extending over a lifetime nearly. and in experiments along the present line which cover more than twenty years, have evolved certain facts that are incontesta- ble. So far as the violet ray produced by me is concerned. I believe that there is no substance which l cannot pene- trate Yet the chief discovery connected how she had envied them.
 sioner of White Plains. The girls legs were without power, and useless to her. After three months of arduous treatment she was sent home She walked from the station and the same afternoon, Tor the first time in her life, few hours of coasting with children who never knew profession. Unlike the Roentgen, or x
 T have proved that it's curative powers experiments have shown positive cures of three eases of locomotor ataxia, of a