Dangerous X-rays

Nikola Tesla's Hypothesis Has Been Proved by the Case of Mrs. Sharpstein.

EXPOSURE OF HALF AN HOUR

Blood Cells Were Overcome and After Effects Were Very Serious.

REMOVED A CROP OF HAIR.

A Young German Who Was Made Partly Bald Because of the Cathode Rays.

Nikola Tesla, in an interview in the HERALD after the announcement of the discovery of the X rays, called attention to the fact that it might be found that deleterious effects would follow a careless use of them. This statement came back to this country after a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences, in Paris, and then Mr. Tesla took occasion to declare that the effects of the rays on the skin were injurious, and used as an instance his own right hand, the surface of which appeared as though it had been severely blistered and had then dried, apparently destroying the life of the epidermis.

Mr. Tesla also said he was confident that the injurious effects of the rays were due, not to a discharge of minute particles of ether, according to Roentgen's own hypothesis, but to the discharge of atomic matter, and that the irritation might in instances of extreme exposure be serious.

A case now under treatment in the Post-Graduate Hospital, in East Twentieth street, demonstrates Mr. Tesla's declaration in a manner which, in a fashion, proves that the operator with the X rays should be thoroughly skilled in their use, and also be an expert electrician as well as a student of the human body.

The case is that of a Mrs. Sharpstein, of Binghamton, N. Y. Experiments were recently made in that town with the X rays for the purpose of locating an injury to a hip joint. The patient was the daughter of a wealthy dry goods merchant of Binghamton, who, several years ago, was hurt in a coasting accident. The injury was about the hips, and as it developed, left the young woman practically without the use of her legs.

RESORTED TO THE X RAYS.

Physicians of repute endeavored to locate the trouble, but failed, and at last, while even that diagnosis was not positive, it was decided that the patient's hip joint had become diseased. This was not satisfactory to her friends, and a few months ago S. H. Sharpstein, an expert electrician of the town, offered to make an X ray photograph of the injury, so that the nature of it might be determined without question.

Before taking a photograph of the patient Mr. Sharpstein decided that he would experiment on William Lanning, a lad, and exposed his hips to the rays for something like half an hour. The photograph was a failure.

Then Mr. Sharpstein decided to try the rays on his wife. The clothing was not removed, but the hips were exposed for thirty minutes, and the photograph again was not satisfactory. There was some encouragement from the results of the latter photograph, however, and preparations were made to begin to photograph the girl who was ill.

It was learned, however, that the muscles of Lanning's hips were becoming numb at the places where the rays had penetrated. The outer flesh took the appearance of a scald, and an eruption began which threatened the tissue. Soon afterward like trouble was experienced by Mrs. Sharpstein.

The physicians of Binghamton were puzzled by the symptoms and were unable to treat them successfully. They declared that the rays had acted on the blood vessels and had withered them, and that the subsequent appearance of the flesh and the eruption were due to lack of circulation.

TO PREVENT IRRITATION.

The length of the exposure to the rays is supposed to have had the most serious effects. Mr. Tesla has recommended bathing the part of the body to be exposed to the rays in oil. This seems to act as a deterrent and prevents the irritation which occurs after the application of the rays. Recent experiments in London have gone to prove Mr. Tesla's hypothesis, and an amusing instance was recently brought before the Academy of Medicine in this city.

A young German, becoming despondent, tried to blow his brains out, but his skull was extraordinarily thick, and the bullet, instead of penetrating the bone, simply lodged in it. It was concluded to use the rays to locate the bullet, and a screen was fitted so it should cover his forehead. The rays were used, and the experiment was pronounced a success. The German was exhibited at the Academy about a fortnight afterward to show the effects of the rays. When he had received the screen he had an extraordinarily heavy crop of hair. The rays had removed the hair from the top of the scalp within their direct range, as though there had never been any hair on it, but back of the line which terminated the influence of the rays the hair was as thick as ever. The physicians declare the hair may grow again.