When the X rays got to work on this packet a pair of
patent-leather shoes was revealed, hidden away amongst the fruit.
Another bundle was labelled, "Specimens of clothing--without value."
No sooner was it held before the X rays than it was seen that a quantity
of cigarettes and English matches were rolled away inside the linen.
All this was found out without so much as breaking a seal or untying a
string.
At the same time that the news of this excellent use for the X ray
reached us, we observed statements from several prominent doctors and
electricians, warning people of the danger of using this wonderful light
without a proper knowledge of its properties.
It seems that under certain circumstances the X ray is capable of
inflicting a very serious wound. It acts in the same way as fire does,
and burns the skin so severely that it is a very long time in healing.
Nikola Tesla, the great electrician, says, however, that this trouble
only arises from want of knowledge as to the proper way to handle the
rays. If they are held at a certain distance from the skin, there is not
the slightest danger of accident.
The curious part of the wound inflicted by the X ray is that the burn is
not felt at the time the mischief is being done. A person can allow his
skin to be exposed to the X rays until it is badly burned without
experiencing any pain until some time after the damage has been done.
The injured part first swells, and then shows all the symptoms of a
burn.
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