556 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



rated above, which marked the beginning of the great discovery, Dr. 

 Middleton said that he had made no effort to remember the date. 

 "Was it earlier than November, 1895," I asked? "Yes. It was at 

 least two years earlier " and, recalling some incidents to aid in fixing 

 to date, he continued, " It was soon after the opening of the autumn 

 semester. It could not have been later than October, 1893. Possibly 

 it was in 1892." 



Professor Kontgen, being a reticent man, has not given to the world 

 the details of his discovery. His announcement was that of results 

 arranged in logical not chronological order. This narrative from an 

 authentic source fixes the date of the discovery of X-rays at least two 

 years earlier than that which is commonly accepted. Moreover, it 

 shows us the great German professor in the light of a man who carefully 

 and patiently worked out his problem to his own satisfaction before 

 announcing his discovery to the world. 



