The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-12-29
INVENTOR Finds new
Way TO RULE X.RAY
Scientists Say Discovery Is
One of Tremendous
Importance.
AIDS CANCER TREATMENT
Operators Will Be Able to Con.
troll "DOsp" Given to
Patients.

An inv >ention that 1t Is predicted will
revolutiorize the use and application Of
the X-iay was exhibited for the first time
! In public in this city on Saturday night
at dinner given at the Hotel st. Denis
to William David Coolidge OF Schenectady
by Dr. L. q. Cole of lO3 Park avenue.
Men versed in the science OF the X-ray
who witnessed the demonstration Of MIR.
Coolidee's invention said that it was the
greatest advancement in the study OF the
rays since Roentgcn
Mr.. Coolidge. who is employed in the
General Electric Company's laboratories.
has been working in secret on the new ray
for three years Tie has so far perfected
but two tubes. one OF which he showed on
Saturday night
His method Of manufacturing the raw
differs from the old one and enables him
to secure such efficiency in control and
application that the greatest benefits to
therapeutics are expected as soon as the
technique Of the ray is thoroughly under
stood
GtScs Operators ruiI Control.
The Coolidge ray will not cheaper the
cost OF production any. but II will enable
N-ray operators to control the power they
wish to administer absolutely. whereas
before II was impossible to gauge the
amount that would be generated or to
direct IL.
In the old X-ray tubes the cathode and
the anode. the terminals. were Of different
materials. Mr.. Coolidge has discovered
that better results are had by the use OF
tungsten throughout. and that ductile
tungsten. likewise a recent discovery. is
best for the work. His progress has been
retarded by the fact that the duc,ile
tungsten is very scarce and that more
must be manufactured before his ray
can be Of general practicabilty.
The anode in the Coolidge tube - Of
heavy tungsten while the cathode ls of
light tungsten, like the hiamcnt IN
tungsten lamp. BY exhausting all the
gases in the tungsten the ii!aments are
heated to incandescence and the ray is
generated In the new tube there is no
huorescence. whereas IN the old that OBJ
stacle was met with.
Streams of charged particles from the
tungsten anode and cathode. which are
vacuum dlf utAN'n bN Il
powerful electric current and the ray
is prmed. 1t is more or less penetrating
In proportion TO the speed with which the
particles are driven.
Praised Coolidge InvcntIon.
Prof. Scherer OF the department OF
physics at Cornell University. who was
one of those at Saturdays demonstration,
praised Mr.. Coolidge's invention highly
and said that the discoverer was the first
man to demonstrate that the theoretical
ions. the smallest particles of matter con-
ceiyed. could be harnessed and utilized
for the production OF radiant light.
The value of the new ray In tho trea.-
ment OF cancer and similar diseases d,
expected 10 ne enormous because OF thr
certainty with which ii can he controlled. /
But much work remains To be done on It
yet and it will probably be a year bcfor. |
ii viii be in anything like general use
Or. A. Judson Quimoy N-ray expert |
OF the Polytechnic Hospital. and famou,
throughout the country for his work with /
the Roentgen ray. said last night.
This new type Of the N-ray tube | !
consider to he the greatest discovery. she
greatest change IN that line since the
original discovery by Roentgen.
Mr. Coolidge's tube will, believe, rev. !
olutioni2e present methods of generating
and administering the N-ray. think :. |
il q reality. but OF course il will take /
some time TO develop tn. technique TO- .
10 therapeutics. At presen: I
We are confronted with the instability e |,
the methods of controlling the N-rays and
Of regulating them according to the dose
we wish 10 administer.
This new invention will. 1t seeJns, give
adequate control both of amount and OF
In other words, the pow.r
Of generating the rays il increased and
the ability to direct it is amplif,,d. In
il will enable us to control
the dose and in photographers too it will
be OF great value because ii can be hat-
messed and used in the amount desired"
Besides Dr. Cole. DR.. Quimby and Prof
Scherer the demonstration was witnessed
by DR.. p. NJ. Hickey Of Detroit. DR.. /. Seth
Hursh OF Bellevue Hospital. DR.. Manages
Of Philadelphia. DIR. II. Drecthler OF To.
ledo DR.. Charles Holding and DR., T. T.
lie Wald OF New York.