X-Rays, Apparatus and Methods Page 1

ELECTRICAL SECTION.

Stated Meeting, December 22, 1897.

MR. CLAYTON W. PIKE, President, in the chair.

BY ELMER G. WILLYOUNG AND H. LYMAN SAYEN.

That Professor Roentgen's discovery of the X-ray has initiated many lines of thought, promising to greatly extend our knowledge of physical phenomena as well as to revise many of our previously accepted views, is generally ad- mitted. That the practical results accruing to humanity by virtue of the applications of this discovery in surgical and medical practice, are of even greater promise and value, is equally conceded. The writers have been engaged for a number of months past in developing apparatus and methods for practical work with especial reference to the needs of the physician and surgeon. For conciseness, we have arranged the matter under consideration in a series of subordinate heads, each of which we shall briefly discuss. Your programme committee has thought that some of the results secured might be interesting, in view of the fact that very little literature regarding the technique of X-ray work has thus far been published.

The Coil or Generating Source. — Thus far the only apparatus known which will produce X-rays readily and profusely is the "transformer." By this, however, we do not mean the commercial transformer of every-day use, but its earlier, and for most purposes less efficient form, the "induction coil." Such a transformer gives exceedingly great electro- motive forces capable of producing discharge over long air gaps. When the discharge from such a coil is passed through properly exhausted and constructed tubes, we have a very vigorous generation of X-rays.