The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-29
XRAY'S LIGHT
KILLS ITS USERS,
SCIENTIST SAYS
Statement Recalls the Death of
Clarks Daily, Assistant
of Edison.

The constant use of the X-Ray
changes youth to old age, burns up
healthy living tissue and sometimes re-
suits in death for the operator, al
though absolutely harmless to the pa
tient, is the claim made by H. Clyde
Shook, of Philadelphia, a prominent
member of the American Roentgen Ray
Society. in an address delivered yester-
day. This claim is s~ubstantiated by
Newark experts who have used the
rays for years, two of whom declare
that the malignant uses may be sue
cessfully combatted, but by entirely
different methods.
The tragic death of Clarks Daily, of
this city, is recalled in this connection.
Mr.. Daily was assistant to Thomas A.
Edison, the wizard of Llewellyn Park
who took up the work when DIR. Roent-
zen first announced his wonderful dis
covery, with the view of further per-
fecting it
Mr.. Daily worked for Month with
the instrument, testing 1t, changing 1t,
frequenting the zone of the powerful
rays, HWll1 Ills tIlltl anu OlItlS, dlilOlS
them DR.. J. T.. Morehouse, of South
Orange. His finger nails were first af-
fccted. They were slightly burned, and
his fingers were am%putated. The decay
still continued, anil the entire hand was
cut off. Still the malignant rays would
give him no rest, and the forearm and
finally the upper arm were amputated.
With one arm taken away piecemeal
Mr. To IIty eo,,nlt ractnarotinn hut tho
side was attacked, and the evil rays
burned their way to his heart and he
died shortly afterward, a victim to the
great discovery and martyr No. /. SO
far fifteen have followed him.
Edison %andon II.
Mr.. Dally's brother took up the work
where the dead man had left 1t, but
was forced TO abandon 1t almost imme-
diately, and Thomas A. Edison aban-
doned all research in this field with the
announcement that he would never go
back to it. This was little more than
two years ago.
M. Shook is absolutely right" de-
clared DR.. Charles f. Baker, Roentgen
Ray expert of the City Hospital, this
city. THE deleterious effects are GER
tainly produced, but there is a way Of
obviating them by the use of thick
sheet lead and the abandonment of
the conical horoscope for an apparatus
that will make permanent photographs
on a sensitive dry plate, like a camera
when the lead is used the operator
may remain in another room, watching
only the color of the tubes. while The
patient is examined. There is no harm
whatever to the patient, and there
would be none to the operator If he
used the machine only half a dozen
times. It's the repeated use of the APP
paratus. The bad effects are lone away
with where lead is used, however,
DIR. Morehousc an Experimental.
One of the earliest worker in the
rev field of science was DIR. j. 7. More
house, of South Orange. Dr.. More
house conferred with Mr.. Edison, and
the great inventor is said TO rave Sc
cured several of his plans from the
physician when both were working on
the apparatus. 1t was only after num-
erous exhibitions had been given TO
Sunday schools, parties and thousands
of persons that the bad effects were
noted.
at is not the X-Ray, nor yet the
violet ray that causes the trouble"
declared DR.. Morehouse. There is a
companion ray, mysterious and a ffling,
which is the basis of the trouble, The
only operator / know who was not af-
fected by the rays was one who used
10 battle his hands in a curious, wierd-
looking blush purple light after he
had handled the Horoscope. This
counteractcd, in some manne the effect
Of the bad rays"
DR.. Morehouse gave instances where
death had resulted from the continued
use of the ray, the most notable case
being that Of the former president Of
the American Roentgen Ray Society,
whose name. he had forgotten. who died
from the deleterious effects.
"There is no harm whatever to the
patient. however" he concluded. THE
bad effect comes from continually us
ing the apparatus"