Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-23
Continued from preceding page
Should Expoctant
Mothers BE X-Rayed7

sales personnel customers particularly children, and
bystanders to hazard which they do not recognize
or appreciate and which cannot be controlled effec-
lively. Therefore, the ANA advocates the discon-
tinuance Of the Of microscopes for the fitting Of
Shoes
Virtually all X-ray authorities agree on that point.
As noted earlier the State of Pennsylvania recently
banned the use Of shoe-ftting microscopes in shoe
stores, and other states = Vermont. Ohio. New
York = have taken steps in the same direction. The
Los Angeles Health Commission has just completed
a spot check of 1l6 shoe stores and found that 20
were using X-ray machines for fitting childrens feet,
not one Of which was being operated at a safe level.
3. During pregnancy. A few months ago in Wash
ington, D. c., the Chidren's Bureau assembled
panel Of the country's leading radioogiSts pediatri
cianS obstetrcians and public-health workers to
discuss this topic and the consensus that people
should leave the doctor the decision on the use OF
X-ray on pregnant women and child patients But
it did issue this warning: don't pressure your doctor
for an X-ray during pregnancy in the mistaken idea
that an examination is not complete without IT.;
X-rays during pregnancy should be taken only when
necessary, and even then delayed until after the
fourth month if possible.
T. Chest X-ray. few experts advise cutting down
or eliminating routine miniature chest film sur
veyS but the consensus is that such X-rayS, when
properly handled, should cause the patient no con-
Germ providing that upto-date equipment IS being
used by trained physicians radolOgsts DR.. Bene-
dict Duffy Jr has warned that the use ofantiquated
X-ray equipment is about as safe as driving hot
rod with no steering wheel or brakes" But when
modern equipment is being used by trained men,
Dr. Warren Weaver says chest X-rays give less radi-
alton exposure to the gOnads than do dental Xrays.
However, the Public Health Services recent pro-
poSa to eliminate the unrestricted mass X-ray method
for screening TB cases is generally approved by the
authorities. Surgeon General Leroy E. Burney rec
commended that such chest surveys be limited to
greatest risk groups which he described as hospi-
talzed persons, loW-income groups, migrant workers
and persons previously exposed to the disease But
it should be borne in mind that in 1886. 10000 new
active cases Of TB were discovered.
So if your doctor recommends a chest X-ray for
you with gonad exposure as negligible as 1t IS, you
should follow his advice. There significant differ
ence between mass X-rayS and those INDIVIDUALLY
prescribed and supervised.
o sum up, all doctors agree that to join the
current panic and bndly refuse all chest and dental
X-rays is to jeopardize your health. AS Dr. L. Henry
Garland said in the California Medicine journal:
There have been over full generations since the
discovery Of X-rayS yet hereditary makeup has
not undergone striking or sudden change for the
worse
Even 50, Dr. R. r. Newell Of the Radiobiolcgy
Department of the Stanford University School Of
Medicine, suggests that you question your doctor
when he proposes X-ray. Its all right with me.
says Dr. Newell, IF people are made apprehensive.
I'm glad to have each patient ask his doctor. Isn't
X-ray daneerousr But don't want patients to be
so fearful that they are no longer reasonable"