Albert C. Geyser
Encyclopedia
Albert C. Geyser is known for creating the Cornell Tube in 1905, named after the college
with which he was associated. The Cornell Tube was made of heavy lead glass
through which no x-ray
s were thought to be emitted and was thought to eliminate the danger of burning in medical use of the x-ray. Geyser claimed that the lead filtration
would eliminate all unsafe radiation
. He was known for promoting x-ray to eliminate "excessive hair" and "faultless skin" that would be white and hairless. His invention made him famous and his wedding to Annie S. Higbie was covered in the front page of the New York Times.
Unfortunately, Geyser's experimentation with x-ray radiation on his direct skin forced the amputation of all the fingers, metacarpal bones, and one row of carpal bones on his left hand to stop the spread of cancer
. He later lost his right hand to ulcers.
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
with which he was associated. The Cornell Tube was made of heavy lead glass
Lead glass
Lead glass is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass. Lead glass contains typically 18–40 weight% lead oxide , while modern lead crystal, historically also known as flint glass due to the original silica source, contains a minimum of 24% PbO...
through which no x-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
s were thought to be emitted and was thought to eliminate the danger of burning in medical use of the x-ray. Geyser claimed that the lead filtration
Filtration
Filtration is commonly the mechanical or physical operation which is used for the separation of solids from fluids by interposing a medium through which only the fluid can pass...
would eliminate all unsafe radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
. He was known for promoting x-ray to eliminate "excessive hair" and "faultless skin" that would be white and hairless. His invention made him famous and his wedding to Annie S. Higbie was covered in the front page of the New York Times.
Unfortunately, Geyser's experimentation with x-ray radiation on his direct skin forced the amputation of all the fingers, metacarpal bones, and one row of carpal bones on his left hand to stop the spread of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He later lost his right hand to ulcers.