MARTYRS TO SCIENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 6 April 1909, Page 2

MARTYRS TO SCIENCE.

The victims of X-ray apparatus during the earlier years of its use, seem t a be a great deal more numerous t.'ian lias been imagined. A f:'w cases, such as that of Dr. Hall-Edwards, who has lost both hands, have been placed before the public, but, according to the "Daily Express," there are many more eases as bad, or nearly m< bad, as these. The Royal Medical Association gives the names of eight doctors who are victims to this disease, but the "Express" says that medical men were not tho only, or the greatest, stiff ci ers. Radiographers in hospitals, whose work with the X-ray apparatus was constant, seem to have sunffered most. Several s<uch cases aro described. Oue radiographer has mere useless stumps for fingers another has been away from work since November owing to the terrible state of his hands, and a third has practically lost the use of his right hand. A fellowworker of the last-named died of blood-poisoning indirectly due to the effects of the rays on his hands. A fourth operator is crippled for life in both hands, and still suffer soverely, though he had not touched an apparatus for over two years. These men are pioneers of science, and their sufferings are the price of greater resources in the war against disease and death. One of the first makers of X-ray tubes found it necessary, in order to get the correct degree of vacuum in the tubes, to expose his hand continually to the fluorescent screen. The reswlt was that his Tight hand became diseased, and he is' now dependent on the generosity of his employers, who have paid him full salary all the time he has been laid up. Most of these men will be permanently incapacitated from doing any kind of work, unless a cure for the disease is found. It is therefore urged .that those who were injured in this "way before the necessity for precautions was recognised, have a strong claim ou the nation. They not onjy sustain, ed these injuries in introducing a great benefit to the eoniniunity, but they bought with their sufferings the safety of all those who now use the apparatus. If the nation will not come to their help, here is an' opportunity for a millionaire to give some of his money to an extremely worthy cause.