The New Danger Rays

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1921, Page 4

The New Danger Rays

i By a member of tfie Ho lit gen Society). Scientific advances often bring 'fresh complications or dangers in their trail. The modern distribution of electricity over long 1 distances and for heavy power, such as for electric trains, made it necessary to employ electric currents of such high pressure that to touch a “live” rail meant death ; yet we have practically no accidents to-day from this modern danger.

But with the modern X-ray installation'it was different;'"Experts themselves do not yet know 'the dangers against which they must he on their guard. None of the pioneers of X-ray work knew that tile rays were harming them ; no One knew that any protection was necessary. Tiiat is why so many of the men who’ took up radiology soon after Rontgen’s discovery, in 1896, have fallen"victims to a greater or less extent to the terrible ravages these mysterious rays make on the human body. To-day the’ dangers' are vastly increased. The X-rays are used in thousands of eases every day for the most varied types of diagnosis, and lar more powerful apparatus is employed.

The latter means infinitely shorter exposure for the patient, who is therefore perfectly safe. Rut the almost incredible extension of X-ray work, coupled with the immense power of the rays now in use, makes the danger of exposure to the radiologist a very serious one. *

These new rays, produced since wonderful modern tube wa/s invented by Dr Coolidge, will penetrate three or four inches of steel, and will travel 10 or 15 feet or more.

The, tube is usually enclosed in a protective lead-lined box, but in striking the protective material rays sot up a new type of mysterious energy known as secondary radiation, and we have yet to learn how harmful these secondary effects may provo. Extreme anaemia is one result, but there are doubtless many others. The secretions of the body gradually dry up, and this may load to various harmful results. There are some eminent radiologists who will not under any consideration go near an X-ray apparatus wjien in action. Others there are, engrossed in their labours for the relief of suffering and more particularly in research work in connection with the treatment of cancer, who are taking all kinds of un- j known risks. It is because tjie risk is so intangible, so mysterious and illunderstoid, that it is so heavy. A new apparatus of enormous penetrating power is just now being fitted up at a London hospital for special treatment. Our knowledge of protection, however, lags far behind our knowledge of X-ray production. Not a few but thousands of men and women are to-day using the X-rays almost continuously. The efforts to investigate adequate protective measures are all too small. « Hence it is that from time to time we hear of eminent radiologists who have died as the result of exposure to the X-rays, men who can ill be spared. And there is as yet no definite means discovered that can prevent entirely the toll from increasing.