Historical Notes on X-Ray Cinematography

Abstract

The history of the various attempts to make x-ray movies is briefly traced. In the beginning there was only visual examination. When it became possible to take still x-ray photographs, the next step was to “animate” them by producing a series of stills showing different phases of movement. — With improvements in x-ray apparatus and reinforcement screens the time of exposure was reduced so that it became possible to take a series of x-ray photographs on a long strip of film. Speeds up to four pictures per second have been reached, though one experimenter claims speeds up to fourteen frames a second. — The “frames” so taken are copied on 35-mm. or 16-mm. film and shown in regular equipment. The 16-mm. display device described attracted great interest at the Chicago Century of Progress Fair and has since excited like interest at other popular expositions. — The methods employed to animate x-ray films are not only of historical importance, but were of considerable legal importance in connection with patent litigation on regular motion picture animation processes.