"Mike Lyle" wrote in
:
Macmillan is also a fan of cyanide; but he deals
with the safety issue as follows: "wrap the cyanide [of potassium] in a
thin paper bag and drop into the acid and water, by means of a string
passing through a trap-door and released from outside."

Back then, it didn't matter so much if you "lost a few along
the way".

I have a copy of "The Boy Electrician" from 1935 which has
a section starting
Most young expeimenters are unaware what a wonderful
and interesting field is open to the possessor of a
small X-ray tube
and which then shows you how to use a hand-held
fluoroscope to "see" the X-rays.

Eventually it does get around to saying
If the skin be exposed directly to X-rays for only
a few minutes, an irritating and even dangerous
inflamation may result.It is therefore necessary
to be extremely careful not to overexpose any part
of the body to their influence.

Mind you, come to think of it, one of my daughter's
gliding instructors has been known to say that any
instructor has to be prepared to lose a few after
they've been sent solo And long may that
attitude continue!