662 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



but the early expectations were exaggerated. Methods of making 

 examinations by these means have been so far simplified as to re- 

 quire no highly specialized knowledge for this purpose, and one 

 would expect that hospitals, at all events, would be provided with 

 an X-ray outfit if there is any advantage in it. Replies from a 

 large number of prominent hospitals in six of the leading cities 

 of America, which were asked concerning their employment of 

 the X rays, showed that, of those replying, one third have such 

 outfits; about one fifth have none, but expect to have one soon; 

 and nearly half of those without such equipment have had exam- 

 inations made for them. All that have used the rays testify to 



Fig, 4. An X-Kav Outfit. 



their helpfulness, some of the physicians being enthusiastic over 

 the method. Enough is told to show that the X ray is already an 

 important aid to diagnosis, and, unless the future experience of 

 the hospitals should be quite disappointing, such apparatus will 

 soon be thought an indispensable feature of their equipment. 

 The interior of the trunk, as well as of the limbs, has been success- 

 fully shown, the fluoroscopic revelation being immediate, while 

 for photographic reproduction exposures of varying lengths of 

 time are needed. The hand is the easiest member, requiring from 

 five to thirty seconds, while the trunk requires half an hour or 

 more. In general, it may be said that for pictures showing dis- 

 tinctions of structure, the time now required is from one hun- 

 dredth to one fiftieth of that necessary at first. Pictures thus 

 taken are being supplied to schools for the use of classes in anat- 

 omy and physiology. 



