SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



339 



RADIOGRAPHY. 



By James Quick. 



{Concluded fi-om page 306,) 



l\/r UCH has been said relative to the effects ob- 

 served upon the skin of the body when it is 

 exposed to the repeated action of X-ray vacuum tubes. 

 That the epidermis is affected more or less severely has 

 been amply demonstrated by the reports of various 

 trustworthy experimenters. Hairs die and fall out, 

 the cells that iine the hair follicles perish ; and 

 though, as a rule, the hair is regenerated after a 

 time, the effect upon the surviving cells is shown by 

 the weak and stunted appearance of the new growth, 

 also by the fact that it is often white in colour. In 

 the same way the epidermis becomes dry and scaly. 

 The nails are affected, and, briefly, if the vacuum 

 tube is sufficiently close, the nutrition of the nearest 

 and most superficial structures is so impaired that 

 they die and are thrown off. In the worst cases the 

 effect extends more deeply still. Not merely the 

 epidermis, but the corium and even the subcutaneous 

 tissues perish, so that, when the dead structures do 

 separate at last, the destruction may be so great as to 

 necessitate amputation. Not all RSntgen-ray workers 

 are affected, however, and some only under certain 

 conditions of exposure, and when different vacuum 

 tubes are used. It was at first thought that the X-rays 

 were solely responsible for this phenomenon, but 

 results of preceding work were cited showing that 

 similar effects had been obtained by other means than 

 the X-rays — such as prolonged exposure to sunlight 

 or to the electric arc lamp. There appear to be, 

 therefore, some rays emitted in common by the sun, 

 the arc lamp, and the X-ray focus tube, that are thus 

 active in affecting the skin, but which are not neces- 

 sarily X-rays. This idea is the one held at present by 

 most Rontgen-ray workers, especially in France, 

 Germany, and America. 



Although much has been said in these articles about 

 the numerous advantages derived from X-ray investi- 

 gations, the subject should not be closed without 

 pointing out one or two fallacies that may arise in 

 connection with the work. By shifting a limb up 

 and down and from side to side, the shape of its 

 shadow upon the screen may be distorted so as to 

 resemble a variety of deformities. It is well in all 

 cases of supposed injury to make a routine examina- 

 tion of the correspondingly sound side of the body 

 under exactlv similar conditions as to relative 

 position of parts and of the focus tube. It has been 

 pointed out that mistakes may arise from a misinter- 

 pretation of the results of a fluorescent-screen observa- 

 tion. In one case an outward dislocation of both bones 

 of the forearm took place in a girl of thirteen. A 

 radiograph taken twelve days after reduction showed 

 a normal position of joint, but an apparent separation 



of the tip of the olecranon, of which, however, there 

 was no trace to be found on clinical examination. In 

 a second case a radiograph showed what appeared to 

 be a shortening of three inches in a fracture of a 

 femur, whereas the clinical measurements proved 

 there was not more than one inch of shortening. 

 Callus may be pervious to the rays some months 

 after a fracture, and may thus give an impression that 

 union has not taken place, whereas the parts may 

 be firmly united. A fracture without displacement 

 may not show on the radiograph, but may often be 

 recognised when viewed from a fresh aspect. Hence 

 it is well to examine first with a screen, so as to 

 determine the best position for securing a satisfactory 

 result. These cases are rare, but it shows that it is 

 not safe to arrive at a too hasty conclusion. 



In reviewing the positions of thegeneral practitioner 

 to-day and at the beginning of 1S95, one very clearly 

 sees the enormous strides that have been effected by the 

 introduction of the beautiful methods of X-ray examina- 

 tion. The first aim of a medical man is the allevia- 

 tion of the sufferings of his fellow -beings, his second 

 is how best to do so with least pain to his patient. 

 Without doubt the X-rays are daily rendering him 

 invaluable aid towards his desired end. They wil 

 continue to do so, and to a wider extent, as improve- 

 ments in apparatus and better methods of application 

 follow. This is tlie physicist's responsibility. This 

 fact demonstrates once more the linking of the various 

 sciences, and also the interdt pendency of one upon 

 another. 



In conclusion. 1 wish to say thai it is through the 

 kindness of Messrs. J. j. Griffin \ Sons. Limited, of 

 Sardinia Street. London, thai the preceding articles 

 of this series have been well illustrated. This firm 

 very willingly permitted me to use all the blocks I 

 selected, and which were taken from their excellently 

 arranged catalogues of scientific instruments. These 

 catalogues will well repay perusal, and a visit to their 

 extensive manufactory proves both interesting and 

 instructive. 



I shall be pleased to answer any queries upon 

 practical radiography in the "Physics"' columns of 

 Science-Gossip, if such are addressed to the 

 editor. Full name anil address of the sender must 

 be enclosed. 



Suffolk House, 



Dartmouth Park Hill, X. II'. 



[The Editor of SciEXi E-GOSSIP desires to endorse 

 Mr. Quick's remarks upon the interest in viewing 

 Messrs. Griffin's show rooms : they contain everything 

 new in physical apparatus ] 



