The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

Vol. I. No. i. THE PHONOSCOPE. 15 ftevvs anb Interviews We have had an interesting visit from Mr. Vifquin, of the "Coinpagnie Americaine du Phonographe Edison," of Paris. He gave us some very useful information respecting the Phonograph business in France, which we take pleasure in communicating to our readers in Mr. Vifqnin's own words. After the customary exchange of courtesies Mr. Vifquin continued: "Yes, the best season for our business is summer time, when all the > resorts are crowded with a crowd of people of leisure, who are only too glad to patronize such in attractive novelty as the Phonograph. Exhibitors all through the country are well aware ' of that, and they keep us busy supplying them with cylinders. The stock of an exhibitor generally comprises a 14-way tube Phonograph and about 75 cylinders, of which about 5 are instrumental pieces and the rest vocal records. There seems to be a feeling among exhibitors that there is a falling off in the quality of the records, but whether this is due to the bad taste of the public or to careless manufacture, I do not j like to say. "It is certain that people prefer horns to tubes, and it is my devout wish that something may soon be done to put into the hands of exhibitors a horn that will answer every requirement. Tubes, at best, are unpleasant, and in some countries, Austria, for instance, they are positively forbidden by the authorities. "The fairs and festivals so prevalent on the continent of the old world during summer are • another source of lucrative business to exhibitors, who, in spite of three comparatively heavy taxes, yet manage to reap a golden harvest of coin. In France exhibitors are subject to three I distinct taxes: (1) A tax of $50 a year, which is ; called 'Droit d' Auteurs,' then (2) $1 a year, the 'Droit des Pauvres,' and, lastly, the regular local license, which varies according to place and plant. "As to private business, I may say it is improving, but would do so still more if we could supply a cheaper and still simpler machine. People dread the original heavy outlay. Once i this is overcome, we shall have a flourishing trade in supplying records, and all the other requirements connected with Phonographs. I am sure that if Talking Machines were manufactured on the same scale as Sewing Machines and sold in the same manner, records would soon become a staple article of commerce as much as reels of cotton are to-day." (* We take much pleasure in informing Mr. Vifquin that both the Phonograph and Graphophone companies have, at last, put a simple practical machine on the market, that can be purchased for a reasonable figure, from $25 to $40. See articles on Phonograph and Graphophone, this issue.— Ed.) IRew Corporations The Cinographoscope Company, of New York City, capital $10,000, was incorporated < October 21st. Directors:— Charles H. Webster, Charles G. S. Baker and William G. McGrath, of New York City. The Electro-Chemical Storage Battery Company, Belleville, N, J., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. Those interested are Sigmund H. Rosenblatt, K. N. Chamberlain and A. S. Hubbard. The United States Animatoscope Company has been incorporated by William L. Wright, Benjamin A. Badger, Gustav Walter, Charles 1 L. Ackerman and J. E. Brien. Its capital 1 stock is $25,000, of which $125 has been subscribed. Its purpose is to deal in machines for reproducing photographic films in an enlarged form on canvass. The National Graphophone Company, of Yonkers, New York, has been incorporated. Capital, $50,000. Directors, Frank Seaman, of \onkers, Henry Boutz and William B. Owen, of New York. There Is an optical Illusion In our title "Phonoscope" on the cover. Can any of our readers point It out? practical XHses of tbe x=1Ra£S The "Herald," of Los Angeles, Cal., has established a free clinic in order that the poor and indigent may profit by the wonderful new light, known as the X-rays. It is not our intention to dilate on the nature of this light in detail, we will rather restrict ourselves to the practical uses to which it is being put, and to do so more easily we shall ask our l-eaders to observe with us one day's work at the "Herald" clinic. A patient enters but gives no information as to his ailment. Dr. Yoakum exposes him to the X-rays and a bullet is found embedded in his thigh. In addition a number of cases of bone fracture, necrosis of bones, stiff joints at knee, wrist and hand are properly diagnosed and explained by the aid of this invisible light. One man had a bullet in his knee, another a broken ankle, a woman "something the matter with her thumb," which turned out to be a needle plainly visible; another's ribs, breastbone, heart, etc., could be plainly discerned. C. Galvin suomitted an arm and hand woefully injured years ago in collision with a shotgun. The X-rays located several of the small shot left in the arm. Miss Bedient, of Pico Heights, ran a needle in her left foot, which the X-ray located, and Dr. Stewai-t operated upon the member and re-submitted the patient to the X-rays. A small point of needle was found still lodged in the bone, but its removal determined against, because of possible danger to the ligaments of the metatarsal junction. The X-rays are also going to be used in the detection of the adulteration of food-stuffs, which is rendered possible by the varying degrees of transparency possessed by the different substances composing them. The following are some of the cases examined under the X-Rays at Los Angeles, Cal., and subsequently cured: Case No. 43— An adult ma'e; physician— Complaint, pain in joints of hands. Showed enlargements in joints of hand caused by rheumatism. No. 47— Boy— Complained of pain in upper fore arm; contusion of humerus visible. No. 57— Adult woman— Complained of pain in lower arm and eccentricity of motion in it; could turn outstretched arm with palm downwards, but could not turn the palm upwards; examination showed un-united fracture of the radius (larger bone of lower arm); when trial was made to turn the palm upwards the overlapping ends of the broken bone for a space of about an inch were plainly visible to all present. No. 03— An adult male— Complaint, pain in knee; thought there was a nail in it. Examination detected no nail but showed considerable enlargement of tibia (shin bone) due to chronic inflammatory condition of bones. An old fracture of the tibia was also visiDle in this case. No. 71— Adult woman, complained of enlarged knee point and stiffening. Inflammatory deposits shown on examination. No. 66— A girl with stiff ankle joint, shown by examination to be due to inflammatory condition of all bones at the ankle. No. 78— An adult male; six birdshot in forehead, lodged there twenty years ago. Location clearly shown. No. 72— An adult woman; showed abnormal development of metacarpals, caused by rheumatism. No. 83— An adult male; complained of pain in the ankle. Examination showed unnatural enlargement of lower ends of lower leg bones at ankle. The apparatus is now working so steadily and efficiently that its engagements for the future are daily becoming more reliable. All through the United States the X-rays are now used for the location of foreign bodies, such as bullets, splinters, etc., in the flesh or bones. ^Dangers of tbe * % % x=1Ra£S It seems to have been satisfactorily proved by eminent physicians and scientists that frequent exposure to the action of the X-rays leads to a decomposition of the tissues which generally manifests itself as dermatitis or alopecia, skin diseases, baldness, and affection of the eyes. Tesla asserts with great positiveness that the X-rays do produce physiological effects in the human features — in the skin and eyes. He states that they have affected him and that they produce a feeling of weariness and lassitude. Other cases tell of loss of fingernails in hands that have been radiographed, and of hair turning white or coming out entirely after the head has been exposed to the influence of the rays. Mr. Geo. L. Newcomb, an electrical expert of Salem, Mass., has had a very sad experience with Crooke's tubes. After a short operation with them he felt a pain in his hands which soon became unbearable, the skin peeling off in strips. His symptoms are identical with those of a Mrs. Gill, of New York, from similar causes. Yet Mr. Newcomb maintains that the short exposure required for locating a bullet, etc., can in no way affect the patient. Interesting litems Prior to his departure for Europe Cardinal Satolli, former Papal Delegate to the U. S. A., paid a visit to the Wizard at Orange. Mr. and Mrs. Edison showed the Roman dignitary all about the place and gave him an opportunity to see the X-rays, the Phonograph, and the Vitascope at work. The Cardinal remained With the inventor for nearly two hours. The Wizard, while conducting the exhibition, watched with amusement the changing expressions of wonder and amazement on the face of his visitor. By means of the X-rays he showed him the bones in his hand, a coin through the covers of a pocketbook, penetrated 2,000 pages of a book, and performed a number of other experiments. He did about everything but photograph the thoughts of the party, and he promised to do that some other time. In the Phonograph laboratory the Cardinal was entertained by several high class selections, and the visit ended with a Vitascopic display. That the Telephone should make a good teacher for Deaf and Dumb people is certainly startling, yet such is the case. At the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, Margate, England, the Telephone is already being used in teaching children who possess even the tiniest fragment of hearing. Several receivers are coupled up to one transmitter, so that the teacher can instruct a group of children at the same time, without in any way hiding his facial expression and lip movements, as is the case when he has to direct his attention and his voice into the mouth of speaking tube or trumpet. A new lamp which has just been invented by an Italian will, if all that is said of it be true, bring joy to the heart of the housewife. The lamp, which is declared to be no heavier than one of the ordinary kind, generates its own gas. The cost, however, is only one-fifth that of ordinary gas, while the illumination is as bright as that of an electric lamp and much whiter. A single lamp floods a large room with light, and as, in addition, it is clean and odorless, one cannot wonder that both the electric light and the gas companies dread its rivalry. But unfortunately the' promises of inventors are not always carried out to the letter. There are more than 45,000 Talking Machines in the United States alone. Supposing every one of these machines to be supplied with 10 records, this would mean a total of about half a million cylinders, which put together would form a tube nearly 4 miles long.