The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-09-16
The Roentgen Rays.
New York Medical Society May Inquire Into their
Unskilled Use.

Unskilled Use.
The members of the medical profession
are beginning to realize that danger turks
in the use of the Koentgen rays, and that
unless great care and skill are employed
in connection with a long exposure of any
part of the human body to the cathode
light serious injury may result.
The matter has been called to the at
tention of the Medical Society of the
bers about 1,500 physicians and surgeons.
No meetings are held in the summer
months, ard most OF the officers and
prominent members are away on their va
cations. 1t has been learned, however,
that the dangers of the X-rays will prob
ably form one of the subjects for discus
sion at the next meeting of the society in
September.
From time to time instances where the
rays have done damage have been report
ed. A fragrant case which occurred re-
Gently in New York city was learned of
in spite of strenuous efforts that have
been made to keep the facts suppressed.
1t appears that the use of the N-rays has
become quite fad among some of the
dentists of the city, because the promi-
nence of the jaw bones and their thin
covering of skin and muscle make it easy
to use the rays for purposes of diagnosis.
y young woman came to dentist
of the city complaining of a pain in
the jaw. An examination of her teeth
was made and various remedies were
tried but no relief was obtained, nor
could the dentist find out what the trouble
was 1t was either diseased nerve, some
abnormality in the growth of tooth or d
piece of necrosed bone. He determined
to resort to the N-rays to find out. Ac-
cordlngly, says the New y ork Evening
Sun, AN appointment was made with
scientist who owns set of Crookes tubes
to take photograph of the woman's jaw.
No medical advice was taken as to the adj
visibility of submitting the patient to the
ordeal, although she was run down and
debilitated by the pain she had been forced
to endure. Nor was any inquiry made
as to the possible bad effects of an expos
ure to the rays.
Two attempts to get photograph were
made The first was a failure. and ac-
cordingly second exposure for longer
time was undertaken. 1t resulted sue
cessfully SO far as obtaining a good mega
tive Of the woman's jaw was concerned,
the exposure could not be accurately
| learned. The woman was in the room
with the apparatus for about an hour
and half, but the rays were not applied
constantly during that time. On the
second exposure those in charge of the
machine simply went ahead until they
judged they had good plate, apparently
without any reference to the length of
time it took.
The woman was sent home The next
day it was found that she had suffered
severe injuries from the effects of the
rays The flesh, not only over the jaw
bone, but down on the side of the neck
and breast had been burned. 1t was not
mere blisteIing of the superficial skin,
but the vitality of the deeper tissues had
been destroyed. The dentist was notified,
and in great alarm sent for physician,
who has since been busiIy engaged in allie
Waiting the patients sutferings. The
woman is not out of danger Yet, as blood
poisoning is liable to set in If she does
recover she will always bear the marks of
the burns.
Dr. Landon c. Gray, president of the
Medical Society OF the County of New
y ork, is at his summer home in the
northern part of the State. Dr. Charles
IL. Avery of 23S East Eighteenth street,
the secretary of the society, is about the
only officer who is still in town. He talk
ed freely about the dangers OF the N-rays.
IN o better work can be done he said,
than to report these abuses of the
koentgen rays and inform the community
of the dangers Of their use in unskillCd
hands The members of the Medical So
ciety are scattered far and wide, and it
would be impracticable to hold special
meeting to consider that subject alone.
but if these cases continue TO occur the
society will undoubtedly discuss the mat
ter at its next meeting in the fall.
think the newspapers can do more good
by warning the people about the danger S
OF the rays than any action of medical
society,"
Dr.. Avery said that he had heard of
several cases where slight inlldmmationS
and burns had been produced by the rays,
but had heard of nothing so serious as
the foregoing case, which was related to
him.
Il have myself" said DIR. Avery,
subjected my hand to the rays, but eX-
perienced no evil result, and | believe that
| they can be used for good service in the
practice of surgery if sufficient precau-
tons are taken and not too long an eX-
posure is made. There is an old rule in
medicine that drugs that will cure will
also do harm. Arsenic and opium are
remedial agents OF great good, yet in
| large doses they are deadly. | imagine it
is SO with the RoentGen rays. knowledge
OF their power must be essential in order
to work safely with them