MARTYRS TO SCIENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 151, 7 April 1933, Page 8

MARTYRS TO SCIENCE

RESEARCH WITH X-RAYS. MAN LOSES ROTH HANDS. Air Alfred Smith, of Legbourne, Lincolnshire, a pioneer of X-ray research, who died recently, was not the last of the devoted band who risked martyrdom in the early days of this branch of medical science. Some are even still at work in this once hazardous, hut now fairly safe, occupation. The “Daily Express” has discovered eight of them—four laymen and four medical experts. Ah- Ernest, Henry Havnack has had innumerable operations. He was one of the earliest layman pioneers. He has lost both hands, but not his cheerfulness. He was retired with a pension of £4 a week, but when many years afterwards a pupil of his, a cousin, was awarded the Carnegie Hero- fund grant, attention was called to the case of this forgottetf hero who had gone into complete retirement on the island of AVest Alersea, Essex. The Carnegie Trust voted him the certificate and a special grant, ‘Mr Harnack invented the lead screen which makes the ray innocuous to the operator, but too late to prevent his own sufferings. Then, on the honours roll is Air Harold J, Suggars, of Billerica?, who succeeded Air Harnack in the work at the London Hospital. When, 30 years ago, he took up the fight against cancer/ Mr Suggars voluntarily sentenced himself to a living death. Ho took X,ray risks and has contracted diseases which have necessitated forty operations. Only a few weeks ago Mr R. J• Pringle, of the Prince of Wales’ Hospital, Tottenham, retired after 29 years of hospital work. Some of his fingers have been amputated as a consequence of disease contracted at his work. He is 75 years of -age. Mr George AV. Howard, aged 74, was for more than 20 years honorary radiographer to the Tunbridge AVells Hospital. He retired seven years ago, but in 1930' he bad to go into his old hospital as a patient and have Ins right hand amputated. Professional pride and reserve hide many a tale of heroism and suffering. It 'is so in the matter of dermatitis from which X-ray pioneers have suffered. There are at least four medical men living whoso names must be enrolled on the list of X-ray martyrs. They are Dr. Stanley Melyille, Dr Thurston Holland, Dr. Finzi and Di. Harrison Orton. They were experimenters in the early days of radiology. Each has paid tribute. Dr. Melville began tlie work of developing the use of X-rays in medicine and surgery in 1898. He has related how in the Tirah campaign X-rays were used for the first time in military operations. The use of the apparatus was opposed by the Secretary of AVer for the Sudan campaign on the ground that the Senior Medical Officer had not been able to trace any single case where the X-ray had been of any special benefit during the Tirah campaign. Influence however, was brought to bear and the Sudan expedition went off with greatly improved apparatus. "Dr Alclville has seen the developments in X-ray and radium work in hospital and surgery from the start. He is the honorary radiologist to St. George’s Hospital, and though be has suffered like many of the fraternity he remains an enthusiast.