X=RAY MARTYR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 August 1928, Page 8

X=RAY MARTYR.

DEVOTION TO SCIENCE. ARTHUR PARSONS DEAD. LONDON, June 27. Another martyr of X-rays was iburied at Greenwich last week. Arthur Parsons, radiographer jit the Seamen’s Hospital, Greenwich, was described at ■the inquest as a “martyr to science,” and “one of the finest men in the country.” Twenty years ago he realised that his calling was ‘slowly killing him, but he went bravely on with his work.

Thousands of seamen received treatment from him for many kinds of illnesses. —;for fractures, broken legs and cancer. He died from cancer following continual handling of the X-rays apparatus/When the, funeral service, was held in the (little chapel of the. Seamen’s Hospital, nurses, doctors, ward maids, and patients alike came to pay a last tribute to the great man who had lived among them for 20 years. Little ward maids, wept bitterly, ‘‘When Arthur Parsons first administered X-ray treatpien t'” said a great firend of the dead man, “.lie did not realise the risk he was running. That, was 25 years ago. Fifteen years ago, sores broke out on his fingers. They healed up and broke out again once more l . Then Arthur understood what was happening. Science, too, was advancing, and men were beginning to ; see the dangers attached to radiography. Still he went on, for he be-: lieved in his work, and he was one of the first operators in London. “Then, in- .September, 1925, he had to have the ring-finger on the right hand removed. The glands were taken away from: .the right arm-pit. Arthur ikpew that the same disease of which he .Tried to cure so .many others was coming on him. “He took .every possible precaution. In; May of last year he complained of pains in the hip and the right shoulder hlacle. He. had to give up work altogether in November. He had an attack this year which affected the spinal cord and .set up paralysis. After that this man., who was so 1 energetic that he had charge of special in five hospitals, was helpless, lying theye waiting to be fed. “Quite recently lie spoke 'about the necessity for protecting radiographers' against the. merciless 1 X-ravs. He was dh.lv 57 years of age, and leaves a widow.”