MARTYR TO SCIENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 404, 13 January 1909, Page 9

MARTYR TO SCIENCE.

'Visitors to tho Franco-British Exhibition {says tho "Daily Mail") have, no' : doubt, : seen in the palace of women's work a tall, brownbearcloa man, wearing a white surgeon's over?l " u I ny P er!on, P" ls t Have noticed that the hands of this, bright-eyed, nervous-look-ing man are useless. One is bound in white bandages, and tne other is encased in a brown glove. '••'..- ■'■ •

Mr. Ernest" Harnack—for ' such is his name—js tho founder- of tho .X-ray department of tho London Hospital, and' His hands are tho marks of his devotion in a science which' has saved tho lives of many at tho cost 'of the intense suffering of a fow Day after day Mr. Harnack, despite the neuralgic pains which afflict tho stumps of his mutilated hands, tells the woiider-soeking crowds of visitors at tho exhibition all about the A-rays, their valuo in surgery, and the apparatus he has invented to prevent others enQUnng tho samo torments as himself. tu iu st eight ?' Bars since ,, Mn Harnack felt the first warning pains now recognised by emyono as indicating "X-ray., dormati¥\u « wa , s ■ ■ * Peculiar tingling of tho fingers, then a cracking of the rSils culminating in August, 1898, in an attack in which tho whole of the skin was taken off both, hands. Since that time Mr. Harnack's handsi have never rocovered, *nd ho has'never been free from pain. In October last yoar ho was operated upon without success. In January this year ho lost the third finger of jus left hand—removed to the wrist—and tho. whole of tho glands in his left »rm were also taken out. Two months Inter three $ e t r v were remoTe " from tho right hand _ Telling the story of his experience with the X-rays, Mr. Harnaok said that the first radiograph of the London Hospital was taken within e, few days' of tho discovery. As an ■A-ray operator, Mr. Harnaok soon found himself overwhelmed with work. Every doubtful injnry was sent to the. X-ray, department, with a note, "Please screen and report.'.' "It was; tho continual soreening which caused Ea £ Mr - P arn > ck -- M*e present time Mr. Harnack suffers agonios from Stump ne.uraJgia," but he is dogged and cheerful. It is three years since be was able to wast or dross himself. In his sufferm™ he has been consoled by the thought that he has invented devices which completely protect the X-ray operator. This apparatus'is now m use all over the world. It, brings \S ck . however, no profit, although Bβ holds the patent establishing his position as tho inventor. . .