VALUE OF X-RAYS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 153, 24 March 1920, Page 7

VALUE OF X-RAYS

SEEING THROUGH THE IMPENETRABLE-.

Just twenty-four years ago Professor Eontgen—a Dutch scientist, bv the way— d ; scovered the/value of the X-rays and their power of "seeing through" the ■•human body (says a writer in the "Daily Mail"). His retirement has recently been announced; he has accepted no honours —he has always looked upon kis work as its own reward.

In 189 G.it was considered maTvellousto photograph, tho bones of the hand with half an hour's exposure to the X-ravs. To-day the .heart is "snapshotted" in" a hundredth of a second, the entiro,..-con-tents of o, watch can be photographed without opening' the case even, and tho interior construction of a three-inch shell of some unknown pattern can bo photo graphed in a few. minutes. *

Twenty years ago -the X-rays apparatus was worked by a few electric cells, such as are used for lighting a toy lamp: to-day installations am being worked with dynamos taking 20 h.p. to drivo them, and a ton of lead or more is required to shield the operator from the dangerous effects of the rays,

The medical side of X-rays work is, in fact, beginning to .look like taking a secondary place, despite its vast value, and indusir'al X-rays work threatens to 'assume the prenfier position. Tho immensely -powerful apparatus made to-day is being apnlied to the examination of metal 'castings, of motortyres, of welded joint.?, mid of faulty mechanism. . ,- !

A frequent fault in a casting is .(ho presence of "blow-holes." small hollow soaces ij) (lie metal which may nanse disastrous results if it be worked up into «ome part of high-speed ;7)iechani?ni. An X-ray photograph reveals theso faults, and locates them, and much/ expensive 'labour can ;be raved by "scrapping" tho ending before it is worked pp. , Of osp»cial value, too. oto tho rays in revealing flaws in (he timber used fo l ' v'tal rxirts of aeroplane.?.

Now following on the report of Bontgori's retirement.'crimes news of tho death of Dr. Cecil Lyster. of the Middlesex Fnsnitul—nnotlior victim, of the cruel effnets of -the X-rays upon the human body. The question to-day giving anxiety, to nhysHsts is how to -protect ourselves, aqainst 'the effects o c these pew rays, which w : U penetrate several inches of ha"! steel.

The X-ray tub» generating the rays is sometime* enclosed in c. protective box lined with lend weisrh'ug two tow; or more! The effects of ths ravs can be oVervvl -forty feet away; vet such is their discriminating power thai thev will ro-vpnV.T (li!te"ence-nf a thonisandll" of nn ineh. in a s-Ii»»t of mica.

A" entirely no«- field ha* been opened ■nn bv tV new X-ravs: wbir-h -.will show ■lis-the. contents-of a tadpole's stomach-or a flaw in a *tcel armour T'.'ote, or the ac" of an- ancient tree. •

Tlinv are- enabling the rodiolp«'sl -to s'pc throiieh the impenetrable, and "ill in the- near future solv« m.ij>y -riddles which for eeutur'os hnvedviffieil-scionce.