The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-28

Washington, ID. C., Oct. Z6.--doW
old are you?
People have always lied in reply
to that question. Criminals seeking
to conceal their identity, women
wishing to appear younger than
they are (that is all women past
201, young couples seeking mar
rage licenses, men seeking jobs,
have all made a practice of claim
ing whatever age seemed most con-
yenient and not too obviously be-
lieved by their locks. Young boys
wanting to be soldiers and sailors
claim to be older than they are Pro-
fessional athletes frequently claim
to be younger. The list might be
heightened Indefinitely.
Well, science has found a new
age test, which will make it much
harder for any one, who can be sub
tected to an investigation, to con-
ceal his age This scientific test
was first used quite recently in
connection with Chinese immigra-
ton. According to the law, Chin
csc fathers in this country may
bring in sons under 81 Now a
Ch1naman's age is the hardest thing
in the world for an occidental to
guess. The Chinese face is a slow
changing mask A Chinaman of 20
often looks almost like one of 40.
So that a horde of sons claiming to
be under q were pouring into this
country. and no one could success
fully dispute the claim-until the
~ cd h
lem.
The doctor who tells the story
explained that age can be deter
mined to a considerable extent by
looking at the bones of the individ-
ual with the X-ray.
The doctor added that X-ray
might be used to advantage in other
instance, he suggested that it might
be employed in issuing marriage
licenses when the couple appears 10
be Of uncertain maturity. And if
women ever become so eager to
vote that they claim to be of age
before they really are, it might be
used to test their claims. =
Dangerous to Handle.
The specialist who told this story
went on to recount some Interesting
experiences in his field of medl-
cine. The life of an X-ray surgeon
has tragic cast because constant
use of the rays and exposure to
them is apt to result in cancer or
terrible burns. Danger from
barns is less now as the doctors
have learned better how to handle
the rays. But surgeons still give
their lives, because the powerful
rays that destroy diseased tissue so
thoroughly also prey on healthy
tissues.
knowledge of the dangers to
to deter doctors from entering this
field of medicine. Much expert
mental work is being conducted to
increase the uses to which X-rayS
can be put. Regardless of them
selves, surgeons are eagerly test
ing new possibilities of X-rays to
diagnose internal troubles such as
tuberculosis and to cure diseases
benefited by the more expensive
radium.
But the surgeons life has its
lighter side. And this doctor chose
to dwell on it
Il have learned to tell a married
woman from a single one" he said.
1T is very simple. When a patient
comes into my Office to have X-ray
pictures made of her teeth l have
to pose her 1t is important that
the head be tilted exactly. And to
get this proper angle, must take
the head in my hands and turn it.
Single women have stiff necks.
Married women are very pliable."
This principle of physiology, he
insists, he has tested so many times
that it is well proved. There are
d few exceptions. School teachers
have the stiffest necks, even when
married, if they continue to teach.
They also have d tendency to
change the position of the head a