The Portland daily press., 1899-05-11
THE X.RAY AND CONSU MP
TION.
The Use of the One in Diagnosing the
Other-How Danger of Damage suits
Prevents It's Development.
New York Post. }

NEW aOrh fohb.J
1t has been denlsred by some enthusiast
that if X-ray diagnosis were generally
adopted for the detection of consumption,
an eificacious means would thus be con
tributed towards its suppression and
gradual eradication DR. W. III. King.
professor of electro-therspeutics at the
New York Medical College and Hospital
for Women, said on this point: with all
great discoveries the enthusiasm of the
profession and the public Is likely to lead
them beyond that point which Is demon
strable by actual clinical results ; the
X-ray has been no exception, and while
much hasibeen done by 1t in q diagnostic
way in the field OF surgery and medicine,
there is much that is unsatisfactory as
yet
1.-the tubercle germ cannot be detected
by the X-ray," ne continued: when the;
disease is sufficiently advanced to produces
a hardened condition OF the lungs 1t
throws a shadow on the microscope. and
can be easily detected. 1t is not yet
known when the immediate transitory
stage of the breaking down Of the solidi-
fed tissue begins; when 1t is sufficiently
advanced to produce cavity 1t can be
easily disoerned by the huoroscope;
oavity, too, is seldom demonstrable with
photograph, but may be distinguished
by the microscope; soliditication is also
more easily detected sby the microscope
than by photograph.
'"rhere are, however, other things which
throw IA shadow, such as pleuritic
effusiOns and very severe pulmonary con-
~ he go ic won
In the present state of the development
of the X-ray, 1t is the judgment of men
of science that 1t is unsafe to be guided
by 1t alone in the diagnosis of pulmonary
affections, but only rs corroborative of
physical examination. There Is no doubt
that in the near future, with The general
increase of the power of the machine and
improvement in the Crookes tubes, the
X-ray will be q most important factor in
the diagnosis of all pulmonary as well as
cardiac and abdominal diseases.
1t is Necessary, not only to possess fine
apparatus for this work, but trained
eye as well-which comes from much ex
perience.-as photographing Is not as sat
isfactory in this class of disease as is the
fiuoroscoDe. rs e.
The bad results from so-called X-ray
burns which followed It's application, and
the number of suits for malpractice
brought against physicians, have done
much to arrest the advancement OF the
X-ray in this direction, doctors being
afraid to experiment with it to any large
extent, SO many juries having found
against them for resulting inJuries-nota-
bly, one case in Elmira, n. T., in which
the jury brought in a verdict of acquittal
for man who had shot another in the
head. The man was not instantly killed,
as the bullet had lodged in some part of
the brain not Instantly vital, and an I'M
succesful attempt was made to get an
X-ray photograph of the bullet. The jury
decided that death was caused by the
X-ray. The fan that no picture was OBJ
tanned proves that the X-ray did not
penetrate the head.
Tho newspapers TEEN with reports of
NAL practice suits against physicians,
fact which.especially delays more perfect
development Of X.ray diagnosis In pull
monary diseases, as a very powerful ray
must DO used to penetrate the chest
whereas with the hands, arms, and limbs
Il much less powerful ray will answer the
same purpose. The power Of the X-ray
to destroy tubercle germs, which has
been claimed by some, is as yet,it appears,
quite undemonstrable. IL may prove to
be a germicide of some quality, but 1t is
not said authoritatively that 1t has proved
itself very successful in this direction.