The Washington times., 1923-05-12
2 X 4
PHYSICIAN
PIONEER
IN D. c.
Or. Grower Suffers Amputa-
ton After Giving Years Of
Study to RoentgenoIogy.

One of Washington's best
known physicians, nationally
famous for research work in
roentgenologythe science Of the
Xray and its application to medi-
cal practice-has been added to
the long list of victims OF its
misunderstanding properties.
He is DR.. Thomas A. Grower,
of 1903 Sixteenth street.
Loses Both Hands.
Experiments stretching over more
than a decade in the years when
protective methods against NAL
ignant action of the en1anation
were unknown have caused him
the loss by amputation of the entire
left hand and two fingers from his
right. The infection is cancerous IN
character, showing the same phe-
nomena as the dreaded carcinoma
of surgery.
DIR. Grower is only one Of the
devoted investigators here and
abroad who have paid with their
lives or with mutilated and dis
eased hands and bodies for their un-
tagging researches in the lore Of
the x-ray. At least fourteen lead
ing investigators in this country
have lost their lives or developed
cancer by the same method.
A few may be mentioned: Or.
Eugene Caldwell, of New York.
died; DIR. Frederick H Baetjer, Johns
Hopkins Hospital, lost nearly ell
of both hands; DIR. Walter Dodd,
Massachusetts General Hospital,
died as result OF x-ray exposures
while in the British service IN
France: DIR. Percy Brown. Harvard
Medical School. badly hurt in same
service, but survived: DIR. Charles
Lester Leonard. Philadelphia, died.
DIR. Grower has almost completely
recovered from his amputaticr1,
which was through the middle Of the
forearm.
He himself will not comment upon
his case or its history. His ass0-
ciates are loaths to speak OF 1t. but
it is well known in medical circles
of this and other cities.
In no case in the present era OF
the X-ray, except in those OF will
full neglect, it is explained. can an
operator be injured by the action
of the undetermined factor produc-
ing cancer. But months and years
of exposure before simple device
to negate the tissue-killing effect
were known to have resulted in
many cases of malignant disease.
DIR. Grower started experiment.
ing with the x-ray in 1893, but a
few years after their discoverer,
DIR. Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen,
after whom they are named, an
nounce his findings. The damage
;o1n ~ Id
condition was incurred long time
since. In all his latter-day work
he has employed the simple device.
hands with rubber gloves, lead.in-
pregnated. Today, the x-ray is en-.
tirely safe in the case of operatives
if ordinary care is observed, and
patients run no risk whatever.
owing to the short periods OF their
exposure to the light.
A brief explanation of the X-ray
for laymen is as follows: A cur
rent of very high voltage is passed
through a glass tube in which ex-
lists an almost perfect vacuum. In
it's passage it produces so-called ca
thode rays, these being in reality
small material particles (ions) shot
off at great velocity and striking
upon a solid metal target in the
tube. At this point the X-rays are
formed by stoppage Of the cathode
rays. The property of the X-ray
which enables it to pass through
solid objects is it's very short wave
length-almost as short as that of
radium. which also has a tissue-de-
stroying effect.
Seated in his laboratory today,
DIR. Blank, one of Washington's
foremost physicians, while chary
of any comment upon DIR. Groov-
er's case, explained the action of
the Horoscope, an X-ray device
employed in diagnosis of interior
complaints. Nothing was to be
seen but a tall, black cabinet,
reminiscent OF conjurer's outfit.
Continued on Page 20.b