Early Days of Radiology. An Account of the Papers read during the Annual Congress of the British Institute of Radiology, 1958

Abstract

The Annual Congress of the British Institute of Radiology concluded with a highly successful meeting on Friday evening, December 5, 1958, at which a large and enthusiastic audience listened to fascinating talks on the early days of radiology given by four senior members: Dr. Russell Reynolds, Dr. Finzi, Professor Russ and Mr. Cuthbert Andrews. The proceedings ended with a hearty vote of thanks, which was proposed by Mr. W. E. Schall and carried with acclamation. In view of the great interest and importance of the occasion, arrangements had been made to obtain complete tape recordings of the proceedings, and it is hoped that copies of them will shortly be available for members who would like to have them. We print below an outline of what was said by each of the four speakers. Dr. Russell Reynolds, who was 15 years old when X rays were discovered, began his reminiscences by reading an extract from the Morning Standard of January 7, 1896, in which there appeared a report from Vienna announcing Röntgen's discovery of X rays and describing some of their most striking characteristics, more particularly their ability to pass readily through light substances, such as wood and soft tissues, and much less easily through denser materials, such as bones and heavy metals. He went on to say that on September 6, 1896, he had attended a meeting in London at which X rays were being demonstrated.