AN X-RAY MARTYR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 77, 30 March 1908, Page 6

AN X-RAY MARTYR.

■ ■ (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON", February 21. A Birmingham surgeon, who was one of the pioneers of the X-ray treatment, Dr. Hall-Edwards, has fallen a victim, to the cause in which he has worked so enthusiastically. For some years past Dr. Hall-Edwards has suffered,what he himself describes as "excruciating, ever-pre-sent pain," caused by the-X-rays setting up disease in the bones. At last his left arm became so useles3, and the agony so intolerable, that a few days ago the arm was amputated. The right hand is also affected, and it is a question whether he can save the right arm or whether that will have to go too. Dr. Hall-Edwards went to South Africa as radiographer during the war, and did valuable work. It was soon after he returned to England and began to deal with the rays in their directly curative action that he first felt the ill-effects of his frequent exposure to the mysterious light which is so helpful in some circumstances and so hurtful in others. Warts began to appear on his fingers. Gradually they spread and caused continuous sores. He could, only get snatches of sleep. Constantly he would be obliged to get up and wander about the house in dumb torture. In a letter to a medical paper he spoke of the pain as being of a neuralgic character. "It never ; ceases, and is intensified' from time to time by sudden stabs and jumps of such severity as to make one cry put." At that time he had 1 on the back of each hand from 50 to 60 warts. He could get no relief from drugs, and the warts were so sensitive and painful that they could not be sand-papered. His only remedy was to soften them by means of a lead lotion and* opium poultice, and then to scrape them off with a knife. Thi«: caused him intense agony, but he persisted in undergoing it so that he might be able to get on with his work. "For two or three days after such an application the pain is increased," he wrote, "but the fingers are rendered much more pliable and mobile." That was all lie thought of. "How can I continue my investigations and experiments? .1 must have my fingers supple, no matter what the cost in suffering. I cannot give up now."

lhere are many more who have suffered and are suffering in. the same w"ay. 'I know a number of such cases," says Mr. Alfred Dean, one of the best-known makers of X-ray apparatus, "both here and on the Continent. There is a doctor in London now who has had several fingers taken off. But you must understand that all these sufferers have been men engaged in experiments. I myself had trouble with my hands some years ago, and it -svas that .which led mc to go in for protective appliances. There is now no reason at all why anyone should be affected who takes proper precautions. As for the ordinary operator, he is as safe as his patient. The apparatus-is so largely automatic that there is no risk to patients at all. Unfortunately. Dr. Hall-Edwards did not protect himself until it was too. late."