1927 SEES NOTABLE SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES
Symbols of the achievements of 1927: Above, chromosomes, bearers of hereditary characters, which X rays have been found to affect profoundly. Below, ray tracks, left by moving atoms, photographed by the method invented by Prof. Wilson of Cambridge and applied by Prof. Compton of Chicago, who shared this year's Nobel prize in physics. |
CATHODE RAYS MAKE BURNS
Injuries caused by cathode rays, streams of electrons projected from Dr. W.D. Coolidge's recently invented tube, closely resemble burns due to overdoses of X-rays and are similarly stubborn about healing. This is indicated by experiments performed by Dr. Victor C. Jacobson and Dr. Kenneth C. Waddell of the Albany Medical College, to be announced soon in the scientific journal Archives of Pathology.
Rats were used as subjects of the experiments. The animals were wrapped in jackets of copper foil to protect them from being rayed all over and only a spot about an inch in diameter on the upper abdomen was left exposed.
The first sign of effect by the cathode rays was in the change of hair color, from white to yellow. Then the skin appeared to be tender and finally developed pronounced sores, which were very slow to heal. When the rats were chloroformed and the skin subjected to microscopic examination, the details of the damage resembled closely those of X-ray burns. The experimenters state that it now appears highly likely that X-ray burns are really due to cathode rays generated by the impact of X-rays on solid or liquid objects which they encounter.
RAYS MAKE NITROGEN GLOW
Special Feature: Vacant Lots in the Solar System
copyright 1997 Science Service