Page 4

OverviewTranscribeVersionsHelp

Facsimile

Transcription

Status: Complete

current through a vacuum tube. It therefore depended upon two
previous discoveries;
1. The invention of the mercury pump in 1722 by the
great evangelist Swedenborg. This in later years was perfected
so that a vacuum could be obtained, thus making possible the
vacuum tube.
2. 5he discovery, in 1832, by Farraday of the high voltage cur-
rent.

In 1856 a man named Gessler made the following discovery: when
he passed a high voltage current through a vacuum tube, he found
that from one end of the tube particles of matter were shot across
it, striking against the far side. This movement in the tube he
called the Kathode ray.

It was later discovered that where the Kathode ray struck the
opposite side of the tube the X-ray was generated. This was the
discovery of Roentgen - November 8th, 1895.

The X-ray has the property we all know of going through all
substances if not too great in thickness. This property is
due to the short wave-length of the X-ray. Dr. Christy pointed
out the wave by which we receive our wireless is a long wave -
longer than light. The X-ray is shorter than that of light. The
wave-length of the so-called cosmic ray is even shorter than that
of the X-ray. It will penetrate as much as six feet of lead.

Dr. Christy's recollections of the use of the X-ray during
the world war were absorbing. He explained how they placed the
wounded men on a table and looked through them to find pieces
of shell, writing on the man's skin the position and depth of the
steel.

He closed with this story. A man went to the door of a deaf
old lady's house. This dialogue followed:

Man. Madam, your house is on fire.
Deaf Old Lady. No, we don't want any today.
Man. But I say your house is on fire.
Deaf old lady(closing the door) Is that all?
Man. Well, it's all I can think of right now.

Arthur said he couldn't think of anything else either and sat.
down.

QUESTIONS

Mrs. Farquhar What can I do when a neighbor has a pony that
tramples over the lawn and flowers?
Ans. (Mr. Hartshorne) Put up a fence. The others will not take
offence.

Edith Thomas announced a hot supper at the Lyceum on the 13th of
the month.

Mr. Hartshorne: If ice house is full of ice and snow, when is it
best to cover it?
Ans. After a cold snap.

Mrs. Weld. What can I do when a dog chases my sheep?
Ans. You have a perfect right to shoot the dog.

Notes and Questions

Nobody has written a note for this page yet

Please sign in to write a note for this page