The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-21

INCE the time a year ago when
an account OF Or. william d.
~ Coolldge's new X-ray tube was
made public, this searching eye
OF science has been rapidly growing
In commercial importance. and to-day
1t is to be found not only in hospitals
but In Industrial plants as well.
One Of It's new uses Is 10 detect con-
traband topper and other metals
needed in making munitions of war
when concealed IN bales Of cotton.
Before one OF the cotton laden steam
ers is allowed TO sail for Europe It 4.
now the practice to subject every bale
To an X-ray test. and thus by means
OF photographs 70 detect the presence
OF any foreign body.
An American manufacturer OF car
tridges has lately installed a radio
graphic apparatus which makes II
possible to take pictures OF loaded
shells n to reveal any defects in
them. A c engaged in the con-
structlon OF so-cal.ed burglarpnoof
safes found II worth while to
equip its plant with a powerful X-ray
outfit. by which It IL now able TO take
photographs Of steel plates in advance
Of working them into safes. In his
fashion. not only IL the evildoer held
at bay longer when seeking to break
into a strongbox OF this sort. but the
cortents OF the safe are better pro-
tected against exposure to Are. do
fective plates betng far more apt to
crack and yield under exposure to
intense heat than those that are
sound
Dr. wheeler p. Davey Of mo re-
search laboratory Of tho General Eiec-
trio Company has been dsvoeing a
good deai Of time 70 the study Il prsc-
ticn1 app1toado9s Of tho X-ray tube
evolved BY Dr3 Coolidge Of tho sumo
institution. ID the General Electric
Rovtsso. pictures from which are ~
produced to illustrate th&s article. Dr..
Davey tN1 disclosed some HOeona0&tng
uses to whioh this apparatus Be
put
Tho manufacture q copper wtre,
especially Cor ehe electrical industry.
makes first an insot. Now the par
tioular b,fsaboo with which h wire
manufacturer has to battle IL the
cavities formed M the time the ingot
IL cast both upon the surface and
deep In the body Of the copper. More
often than otherwise These blowholes
are oxidized ana will never weld un-
der pressure. This leads TO weakness
in the wdre which cannot be detected
uniformly. while the defect may also
produce q minute scale on the sur
face OF the wfre which may out into
the insulation and not infrequently
pierce II, thus Leading 10 short CIR
cults OF some other Objectionable
manifestation.
Now DR.. Davey has shown hat the
Coolidge tube can be relied pom to
scnu It's rays through an ingot OF
copper and produce n photograph
which MI! ~ ono disclose .mpsEec-
tons. This method OF examination
is particularly valuable because GER.
tain chemical ingredients which i'm
prove the copper for electrical pur,
poses also tend TO increase the like
lihood of some defects. and undei
ordinary conditions these blemishes
cannot IA detected readily.
DR.. Davey has also been expert
menting with the Coolidge tube IL
connection with steel castings. ant
his efforts are blazing the way to {
practical, employment of the X-ri,
tube for the examination OF ingoti
from which rails and structural stee
forns r rolled. Many railroad &C
oidents arc caused by the breaking o
rails, end well nfsh without creep