AN X-RAY EXPERT.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17134, 22 June 1927, Page 4

AN X-RAY EXPERT.

HE TELLS SOME SECRETS. LOST TEETH AND. PENCE. Are men absent-minded? Ask Mr Smith, who is at present in charge of the X-ray department of the Sydney Hospital, and he will tell you, decidedly yes. Mr Smith is in a position to pass judgment, as he does not think it unusual to X-ray 2000 people in a year. Last year no fewer than 13,777 were X-rayed in his department. "If men were not absent-minded," he said, when interviewed, "well, our work would be very much easier. When we get a person who has a genuine cause to solicit our aid we are put to little trouble. We get him under the rays and discover his complaint in a very short time. Rarely do we waste more than one plate on these patients. Tho3e False Teeth. "But the type that puts us to most unnecessary trouble generally suffer from the same supposed complaint. They all go to bed forgetting to remove their false 1 teeth, and when they awaken in the morning toothless they immediately rush here in a very excited state suffering from imaginary pains. "We X-ray them, and some are quite concerned because we cannot tell them immediately in what part of their person their teeth are located. They then leave for their homes rather indignant at the delay. "In many cases, just as we are in the middle of developing the photo that we have taken, we receve a telephone message from the man to say that his wife had discovered the missing teeth while making the bed. Others, of course, are too much ashamed of themselves lo let us know what has happened, and we have to draw our own conclusions." If anyone comes complainii gto Mr Smith about missing teeth he is likely to be treated with suspicion. Then there is that- type confident that they have no reason for being X-rayed, but are curious lo know what is the cause of certain pains in their bodies. "These," Mr Smith continued, "are generally men and women from the various city drapery shops. They appear to be accustomed to hold a dozen pins or more between their teeth while window-dressing, or employed in some similar occupation, and do not notice a pin or two occasionally slipping down their necks, until one happens to go the wrong way. Seventeen Pins. "Then they think it is time to have the matter investigated, and come to us. "On one occasion I remember X-ray-ing a young chap from a mercery shop and finding no fewer then 17 pins." Mr Smith is continually treating children who swallow coins and toys j of various descriptions. "I suppose," he said, " these comprise about 10 per cent, of the number we X-ray. The number of halfpennies—this is easily the commonest coin that we locate —and small silver coins we secure out of different part* of children would run into pounds in a year.'' Mr Smith added that he found the X-ray work very interesting.