THE ALUMNI JOURNAL IJl 



from the negative pole or Cathode, under high electric tension, and in 

 high vacuum. These particles are called electrons and are identical 

 with the electrons found in the atoms of all substances. 



As stated, their velocity is most tremendous, being about 170,000 

 miles per second, and it is fairly well conceded that these pr,ojectiles 

 having such great velocity, and coming in contact with some obstacle 

 which arrests their motion, produce such a change or alteration in the 

 electric stress of the surrounding ether, that very irregular electric dis- 

 charges or pulsations take place in the ether with the manifestation of 

 X-rays. Consequently reverting our attention again to decomposing 

 atoms, we have the identical phenomena taking place in the sponta- 

 neous decomposition of the atoms of Ra. Ur. Th. or Polonium or any 

 radioactive substance, that is. flying electrons from the decomposing 

 atom, and these coming sooner or later in contact with obstacles of 

 dififerent kinds which arrest their motion. We can, therefore, summa- 

 rize somewhat, and say that whenever we have flying electrons and 

 these traveling at their initial velocity, and coming in contact with 

 obstacles which arrest their motion, then we naturally expect, without 

 regard to their origin to find accompanying this condition, an ethereal 

 pulsation or X-rav phenomena. 



This Gamma ray or X-ray. as it is called, possesses very extraor- 

 dinary powers of penetration, readily passing through several inches of 

 sheet iron, lead or aluminum. Tn the magnetic field, its behavior is 

 absolutely neutral, not being deflected to the right or to the left, thus 

 differing radically fnnn the Alpha and I'eta rays. 



Another important characteristic of the Gamma or X-ra\- is the 

 property of producing irritation, when allowed to impinge upon living 

 ti.s-sue. This irritation, and at times destructive of tissue almost in- 

 variably follows, under certain conditions, especially on prolonged ex- 

 posure to its rays, whether the source of the X-ra\- be from the Cathode 

 ravs in Crook's tube, or it is evolved as a result of flying electrons from 

 the atoms of radioactive substances. 



Finally, we again deduce th*- following fact. Wherever we have free 

 active electrons, so there will we also have ethereal pulsati<in or X-ray 

 with its inevitable sequel. 



