NEW X-RAY PLANT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 6

NEW X-RAY PLANT

IMPORTANT ADVANCE PHOTOGRAPHS AT BEDSIDE IVo famous London hospitals, St. George's and Brompton, have installed an X-ray apparatus of a new type, which marks an important development in technique of radiography. By its means photographs of remarkably clear definition may be taken with a snapshot exposure of l-30th of a second. This is of great significance in the photographing of the lungs and heart. Ordinary stationary apparatus can not take exposures of less than l-10th of a second, and portable apparatus needs at least two seconds. The neu instrument is portable; so that patientmay be X-rayed in their beds. It makes possible the securing o! early diagnoses in the ease of patient.l- - could not normally be brought within reach of a rapid-exposure ap paratus, and should thus be an mi portant means in helping to save lives An official of the makers of the in strument described its main features " The inventor," ho said, "is Dr. A Bouwers, of Eindhoven, Holland. A number of his instruments are now it use in Paris, Vienna. Holland ann Germany. , , " We have constructed the onljv twc as yet in existence in Great Britain Technically, one great advance in then construction is that they solve the problem of providing the • terrific amount of electrical energy required fof rapid-exposure work, without making exceptional strength of cables and switch-gear necessary.

"For a rapid exposure 36 kilowatts may be required for a very short period, yet the new instrument may be operated with no more energy from the mains than is required to light an electric tire."

New lines of research into bronchitis and pneumonia are made possible by the new apparatus. The St. George's instrument is at present there on loan, but an appeal is to be made for funds with which to buy it