New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-03

Sax+ weeks international congress TOT lhe
study of radiology and ionisanoh -'he n ~ 80,
its kind ever held-grows out OF series VI -.
N.:o, d,ecoveries within the last ten years
Historically the leader of the group, anu
some respects the most important melhpel y, ~,
was the observation by Rontgeh Ill lo'' 'l
.,,oro ,ras an invisible radiation from vacuum
tuhe which would penetrate certain OPAQUE w
.+ which would affect Photographic pia'e
-. ,bcb would excite the phenomenon VI
s,,orescance Shortly afterward Becquerel an
nounced that the metal uranium possesseu Wv,
same properties though exercising lieui ieI0i
Curiosity concerning uranium LED eVehtuah' "
snd;ng In tho mineral containing IT, pltchplehue'
two other elements. polonium ana rauluiii' "nio.
wore much more intensely raolo-acu'e' anu
rod;rm II was Immediately perceived, might
n,ota q valuable substitute for the Crookes 'uoe'
nrovided it could be had cheaply enough. ny
do,rees other marvellous traits revealed theh-
soIros ~ those who carefully examined rauluin.
Tbree dtssimilar forms Of radiation from 1t were
observed a gaseous emanatlon from 1t appai
emily turned into entirely dlHerent elehieil'
u,I;,,o, while there was slow but continuous
outnut of heat that seemed to defy one OF the
hest established laws of physics just prior ~
A., loot of these revelations statement was
made nv Thomson which in itself was start
ling hut which derived greater significance
III, II was seen that it might afford key TO
so,,o Of the other puzzles. The Cambridge
nbrscist declared that there was evidence OF
the existence of particles much smaller than the
atom and that in all probability the atom was
composed of them
Tn to the present time the practical value OF
these discoveries has been very limited. Inc
surgeon can detect the position OF OBJECTS winch
have accidentally lodged in the human body out
of sight II he uses an Y raj tube and a photo
han Gn IN
tuhe and n huorescent screen In a dark room.
The same means can be turned TO account, too,
in diagnosing disease, though to limited ex-
tent. and both the tube and radium sometimes
exert n remedial influence upon cancer Inc
only other kinds Of service rendered by invlsi-
BILE radiations Just now are the exploration OF
sealed packages by customs officers and the test
ing of diamonds by causing them to huoresce
Radum has been tried in variety OF scientific
experiments by eager investigators. Ramsay
thinks that perhaps it may prove potent agent
In the conversion of one material into another
that man wants; and DIR. Burke imagines that
possibly 1t may evolve life in sterilized gelatlne
and beef tea Neither Of these hopes is yet
fully justified; but whether they are realized or
not IT seems highly probable that the force
which R6ntgen was the first to observe. and
which is now being investigated by host of
other scientific n1en. will in time I'll much
wider field of usefulness than it does now.
Even a better knowledge of it's habits regard
less of its nature, may lead TO important re-
suits; because inconvenience in many ways has
already resulted from the ability of host of Oh
jects temporarily TO absorb the unseen radiations
from radium and allied metals and then 20
throw them off again
Not the least remarkable effect produced d.
rectly and indirectly by these substances is
that the conductivity Of the air is Increased SO
ole will hofo e
not The easiest and most delicate test for
radum. for instance. is TO hold the mineral sus-
pected of containing IT near clectroscope the
essential feature OF which instrument is pair