Part 14 (1/2)

The X-ray will pass through the water without being changed fro the case, it was but a simple step to conclude that if it were possible to find a means whereby the human eye could see within the ultra-violet beah opaque substances

Fro until it was found that if the ultra-violet rays, thus propagated, were transh certain substances, their rates of vibration would be brought down to the speeds which send forth the visible rays, and now the eye is able to see, in a measure at least, what the actinic rays show

This discovery was but the forerunner of a still more important develop of the e that certain minerals, and water, as well, possessed the property of radio-activity

Radio-activity is a word used to express that quality in metals or other material by means of which obscure rays are e electrified bodies, and the power to ionize gases, as well as to actually affect photograph plates

Certain ree, particularly uranium, thorium, polonium, actinium, and others, and in 1898 the Curies, husband and wife, French chemists, isolated an element, very ductile in its character, which was a white metal, and had a most brilliant luster

Pitchblende, the base hly radio-active, and ontests of the product taken from it, they were surprised to find that it ey that far exceeded in calculations any computations made on the basis of radio-activity in the metals hitherto examined

But this was not the y, whatever it was, had the power to change ht into close proxilass It changes so turned to brown and others into violet or purple tinges

Radium has the capacity to redden the skin, and affect the flesh of persons, even at soer bacteria, and has been found also to produce some remarkable cures in diseases of a cancerous nature

The reated by this substance, with the X-rays, lead many to believe that they are electrical in their character, and the whole scientific world is now striving to use this substance, as well as theof diseases

It is not at all remarkable that this use of it should first be considered, as it has been the history of the electrical develope should find advocates ould urge its virtues to heal the sick

It was so when the dynah tension current was produced; and electrical therapeutics becanized as a scientific fact

It is not many years since the X-rays were discovered, and the first announce powers

This was particularly true in the case of radium, but for some reason, after the first tests, all experimenters were thwarted in their theories, because the science, like all others, required infinite patience and experience It was discovered, in the case of the X-ray, that it ly, various modifications of the waves were introduced, called the _ some peculiar qualification

In tiht quality for each disease, and learn how to apply it Thus, electricity, thatwhich, in itself, cannot be seen, and is of such a character that it cannot even be defined in tering neonders for our investigation and use

It is, indeed, a study which is so broad that it has no limitations, and a field which never will be exhausted

THE END

GLOSSARY OF WORDS USED IN TEXT OF THIS VOLUME

Acid Accumulator material is sulphuric acid, diluted ater

Active That part of the material in accumulator plates Material which is acted upon by the electric current

Accue battery, which while it initially receives a charge of electricity, is nevertheless, of such a character, owing to the active material of which it is enerates electricity

Aerial Wire, The hich, in wireless telegraphy, is carried or Conductor up into the air to connect the antennae with the receiving and sending apparatus

Alar, connected up with a bell or other signaling means