Application of Röntgen Rays to the Soft Tissues of the Body

Abstract

WHEN the photographs which accompanied Prof. Röntgen's original paper were reproduced, the question was frequently asked, Shall we ever be able to photograph every part of the human skeleton? The developments have been very rapid, and now that it has been demonstrated that we can practically photograph the whole human skeleton in life, and throw shadows of a great portion of it upon fluorescent screens, we wonder the question was ever raised. It was quite natural that a similar demand should spring up for further extension of the art, so that other tissues than the osseous might be revealed by the same methods. Like many other observers, I early satisfied myself that we could examine and photograph certain organs within the cavities of some of the lower animals, such as the frog, rabbit, fish, &c. Further, in a considerable number of photographs of the deeper-seated structures, faint shadows of the human body were now and then obtained indicating the position of certain muscles, fasciæ, and even organs like the heart itself. While experimenting, like others, with the object of overcoming the difficulties of photographing the skeleton, I made a series of observations with a view to testing how far it would be possible to obtain photographs, or shadows upon fluorescent screens, of the contents of the three great cavities of the human body as well as the surrounding osseous walls. So far these experiments indicate promise of future development, and a few photographs are here reproduced, more by way of showing what may yet be accomplished than as an evidence of what has already been done.