X-RAYING THE KING

Evening Star, Issue 20311, 21 October 1929, Page 6

X-RAYING THE KING

RADIOLOGIST’S EXPERIENCES “ A few years ago it would not havO been possible to convey an X-ray apparatus in a suitcase like a portable gramophone, which was how it reached Buckingham Palace during His Majesty’s illness,” remarked Dr Graham Hodgson, the '-radiologist upon whom the King’s physicians depended for diagnosis in his recent illness, in the course of an interview. “ A car stood in the grounds of tno palace, while a cable was extended from the inside of the car through the window of the King’s bedroom and fixed above his bed. By this means it was possible to obtain the pictures by which the physicians would be assisted to diagnose the trouble and collaborate as to methods of treatment The future hopes in the X-ray field, are of course, extremely high. Thera is no limit to what may bo accomplished. ... /“Wo work, thanks to the sacrifices oi c v those who have gone before, m safedy. r~p'aKpnally always wear a leadl rubber apron rubber gloves, and in filont of me « large lead rubber shielcß. Before "he war a _ mail could only cfo X-ray .-csearch for fifteen years without permanent damage. To-day there is no spectre of death at our elbows. “ I was not always an X-ray specialist. I had intended devoting my hh> to surgery, but during the war I was wounded in the retreat from Mons. As I convalesced I saw the surgeons working around me, and realised that they were hampered by a Jack of more complete means of diagnosis. It was then that I first decided to take 11 i* radiology. “T have had many an experience that stands out strangely in contrast! with that of going to Buckingham Palace. , , . "The only patient I ever had ivho seemed reluctant to be diagnosed was a young, pretty girl from the reformatory. She was brought to hospital by one of tiie wardresses whom for some reason she seemed to fear, although the kindly soul tried to mother her. The girl complained of severe pams, but was most anxious to avoid X-ray examination. When at lust we took the picture, however, wo saw a wrist watch in her stomach. “An operation was performed immediately and the watch recovered. When the wardress saw it she gasped. ‘That’s mine.’ Crying bitterly the gin told us that one of the other reformstory girls had stolen the watch, intend* mg to pawn it later and divide"the proceeds. Just as she was showing her trophy to her friends the matron appeared on the the scene and in a panic the thief passed the watch to her neighbour, who in turn handed it on VVhen it arrived in the hands of my patient she was so frightened that on the rp ir of the moment she swallowed- tea \yatch.”