The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-28
DANGER IN X-RAYS
MANY PERSONS SUFFERERS BE-
 CAUSE OF SCIENCE.
Rov., Medical Association Gives List of Medical Men Who Are In-
 fTicted, With Terrible

London. Feb, 27---Despite the cases of Mr. Hall Edwards, of Birmingham Mir. Ernest Harnack, of London. and others who have lost the use of their hands owing to x-ray dermatitis. It, tie is known of the extent of the scien- tific maityrdom caused by X7rays to those whose work has entailed ex- posture to them 7
 Although it is now possible to manl- puIate the x-ray apparatus without any danger to the manipuiator, when the process became known to the enor- moussamount. of harm which the x-ray could cause was unsuspected. The inquiries manifested themselves slow ly, and for many years scientists con tinued to expose themselves to tho rays without any suspicion that they were contracting terrible disease.
 The manipulator who now takes ordinary precautions Is immense from X-ray dermatitis. but the pioneers have paid for his immunity literally with their own hands and fingers. Medical men. photographers and as- sistants. manufacturers of x-ray tubes. and their employees. who worked in ignorance of the need for precau- tions. can now show hideous, ,leprous- looking stumps where once they had hands or fingers. They suffer con- stant pain. and they know that not even the surgeons knife can cure them. Some of the victims have lost with the use of their hands their means of earning a living. and they are not all wealthy men,
 The names of the medical men who have suffered are given by the Royal Medical Association as follows: Arthur Stanley Green Uincolnl:s John Hall Edwards, {Birmingham): Charles Inll t,s Rupert Chaworth Lyster. U.ondon) David Morgan. Uiverpooll: Archibald Douglas Reid( London): Hugh Wals- ham. (London): Edward Stanislaus Worrall. London.) s...5.
 Medical men, however, are neither the only nor the greatest sufferers. The public has already heard some thing of the injuries sustained by the radiograp phers and their assistants in hospitals. and notably of the case of Ernest Harnack MT. Harnack,. until lately rajiographerl at the London Hos pitaf. was one of the first pioneers of the X-ray process fn England. His duties involved the constant exposure of his hands to the rays. with the re- suit that at the present time, with the exception of his thumbs. they are mere useless stumps. Despite repeated operations. fresh developments are continually occurring. as Is the case with every sufferer from x-ray der matitis.
 No means have as yet been found for coping with the disease effectually. As fast as a cure has been effected In one of the -inJured parts, the disease breaks out again. in many cases In a new form: Mir. Harnaolx has been un- able to wash and dress himself for.sev- eral years. though. of course. as soon AS the disease manifested itself in It's virulent form he had to relinquish all work. and has not manipulated an X-ray apparatus for eighteen months. The London Hospital authorities, in recognition of the injuries he. sus- tained and of the devoted work he has done. pensioned him on full salary.
 MT. Reginald Blackall. Mfr Harnach' s assistant at the London Hospital came into the department in .1sss Two years later both his hands became ef- fectej He had taken some precau- tions because his colleagues had be- gun fo suffer but this nronaukt,r. x... .