202 
RONTGEN RAYS. 
(Since the lecture, another photo, of arm has been taken, which shows 
that the joint is in perfect position). 
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much indeed for your kind 
attention. I hope I may have amused you for a short period in a 
popular way, and if any of you would like to see the photographs that I 
have here they can be handed round to you, and you will there see 
some curious results of the process. I thank you very much. (Loud 
applause). 
DISCUSSION. 
The Chairman : After the brilliant and entertaining lecture to 
which we have listened, it would be, perhaps, unreasonable to ask the 
lecturer to answer any questions, but he has kindly said that he 
is willing to do so if any gentleman has anything to ask him. 
Major P. A. McMahon, R.A., who is unfortunately unable to be present 
as he had hoped to be, asked me to enquire whether there would be any 
possibility of the rays piercing clouds. I think he had in his mind the 
recent expedition to Japan and the North Pole to watch the eclipse. 
Mr. WEBSTER : Well, Sir, that is rather a large order. (Laughter). 
The rays, you see, affect plates ; they affect photographic plates quite 
30 feet away, but I do not know whether they could be utilised for 
piercing clouds. It may be that a clever mechanic might dodge it up, 
but I do not see myself how it could quite come in. You see with these 
rays you have to interpose a body between the light and the plate. Now 
in that case you have the cloud interposed between the sun and the 
plate, but you have your tube unfortunately on the wrong side of the 
clouds. I do not know whether you could do it by reflection. I have 
ideas that the curious uprushes of sun storms might be photographed 
without waiting for an eclipse, but this requires expensive apparatus 
and continuous experiments. 
The Chairman : We have been told that our letters can be read also. 
Mr. WEBSTER : Yes, the ink, if metallic, can be seen in sealed letters. 
The Chairman : I think Dr. Moore, who is here, will be kind 
enough to give us the benefit of his experience. 
T. MOORE, ESQ., F.R.C.S. : Colonel Trench, ladies and gentlemen, 
when I was asked by Major Abdy to say a few words to-night, my 
native diffidence inclined me to say no, but I thought it such a 
compliment to be asked to speak before such a great assemblage of 
gentlemen, all highly educated and scientific men, that I felt it would 
be churlish to refuse ; at the same time I am afraid I shall not be able 
to say very much that is new, as my friend Mr. Webster has told you 
almost everything that there is to be told about this very interesting 
process. I was asked to speak more especially about its uses in surgery. 
1 believe, in fact I feel sure, that its uses in that direction will prove to 
be very great. I am sorry to say that we cannot do a great deal at 
present because the thing is quite in its infancy, but still something has 
