The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-04
LINGERING DEATH FROM X-RAYS.
Assistant OF Edison suffered for Seven
Years as the Result Of Experiments.

EAST ORANGE, N. j., Oct. 8 Clarence NJ
Daily, q young electrical engineer, lies dead
at his home. 1903 Clinton street north, East
Orange, a martyr to science, the beginning
Of his illness having been due to his ex-
perimental work In connection with the
Roentgen rays. For seven years he pa
tiently bore terrible suffering and under
went seven operations. which finally cul-
minated in the amputation of both his
arms. He died yesterday.
While Mr.. Daily was burned from the
experiments in connection with the fluoro-
scope and acids, he WAS also burned by the
rays, because he passed his hands before
the rays continuously In the preliminary
work. His disease attracted the attention
Of medical men throughout the country.
His brain was active until a few hours
before his death.
In the experimental work on the X-rays
Mr.. Daily was Thomas A. Edson's chief
assistant. He worked at the laboratory
In West Orange night and day. 1t was
necessary to use many chemicals in the
experimental work with the Horoscope
before the proper formula was hit upon
Mr.. Edison. himself. was slightly burned
with these chemicals, but MIR. Daily, who
had almost all Of the experimenting to
do, was quite badly burned on his hands.
He suffered no pain from these burns. but
his hands looked as though they had been
scalded. This was seven years ago, and
finally Mr.. Dally's brother, Charles Daily.
took up some OF the work.
Six months after the first indications of
scalding appeared the hands began to swell
and to tester. Mr.. Daily was unable to
keep at work continuously, but he went TO
Of hn hnanitalg hn
was being installed and set up the machines,
and did some work in the laboratory be-
sides He suffered in this way for two
years, then went to Chicago where he was
employed by an incandescent lamp COM
pany. Cancer finally developed on the left
wrist, and he came East for treatment,
intending to return TO Chicago. IL was
found necessary to operate.
In February, 1902 more than one hundred
and fifty pieces OF skin, taken from his legs,
were grated onto his hands The granu-
lations did not form and the operation was
unsuccessful. The disease then steadily
spread, and Daily was taken to the New
York Post-Graduate Hospital. where he
was operated on by Prof. Samuel Lloyd on
Aug. 49, 1902, and the affected arm was
For time improvement was apparent,
hut the little finger on the right hand he
came affected, and In Nov. 20, 1902, the
finger was taken of.
Mr.. Daily maintained his courage and
believed he would recover. Three other
fingers were removed on June is. 1908.
The development OF spot on the wrist
made it necessary to perform another
operation on Sept. OF the same year, and
another attempt was made to graft skin on
Nov. IS, but without success. The next
indication OF the continuance Of the disease
was severe hemorrhage Of the arm, as
result Of which his right arm was ampu-
tatcd four inches below the elbow on March
10, this year.
Mr.. Daily gained courage with the heal
ing Of his wound and appeared to be re-
covering. A set Of artificial arms was pro-
vided for him. but he used them only a week.
Then he was obliged to succumb, the dis
ease having affected his entire system
From that time he lost strength, although
his mental faculties were still alert. Com
plications ensued, and it was seen on Satur-
day that he could not live.
Mr.. Daily was born in Woodbridge,
N. j.. 80 years ago, and served Ave
years In the United States Navy us
chief gunner on the Enterprise. He had
been connected with Mr.. Edison for the
past sixteen years. He was married ff-
teen years ago, and is survived by his
wife and two sons.