The Debt of Surgery to Roentgenology

Abstract

MAY I first express my appreciation of the great honor of having a part in the inauguration of the Carman Lectureship which is to-day established by the Radiological Society of North America. The practice of commemorating those whose work has added to medical knowledge is evidence of a desire not only to recognize such accomplishment, but to encourage those of present and future generations in their efforts to further the advance of medicine. Since this Society has shown that it is conscious of these facts, I esteem it a privilege to aid in paying tribute to one of the founders of this association, Russell D. Carman, a master roentgenologist; and it will always be a treasured memory that you have accorded me the opportunity of being here on this occasion. Because of. intimate association with Carman and my known admiration for his work, I had the privilege of inaugurating the lectureship established by the Minnesota Radiological Society, and the remarks made at that time are equally appropriate here. Russell Daniel Carman was born at Iroquois, Ontario, March 18, 1875. After preliminary study in Minneapolis Academy, he took the first two years of the medical course in the University of Minnesota. Removing then to St. Louis, he completed his course in the Marion-Sims College of Medicine, receiving the degree of M.D. in 1901. For a year he did graduate work at Johns Hopkins Medical School, and then returned to St. Louis to practise. It was his first intention to take up orthopedics, but having a natural aptitude for the electrical arts, he was soon attracted to medical roentgenology, which was then in its early stages of development. By advancing with the science and working diligently and enthusiastically, he shortly became known as an exceedingly proficient and unusually reliable roentgenologist. He was a professor of roentgenology in the medical school of St. Louis University, and resigned later to accept the same post in Washington University. On invitation he joined the staff of The Mayo Clinic, Jan. 1, 1913, as head of the Section on Roentgenology, and continued in that capacity until his death in 1926. The science of roentgenology having developed within the memory of members of the present generation, its true relationship to the control of chronic diseases which afflict members of the human race cannot easily be appraised ; but it is a safe prediction that any present evaluation of the place of roentgenology in the science of medicine will, in retrospect, be found to be an under-estimation. Roentgenology has not only enabled the clinician to confirm his observations, but, more important, has given him information that is obtainable in no other way. It has made the impossible possible. The application of the science has made it an essential factor in diagnosis in a greater number and wider variety of chronic diseases than is true of any other method, and this application is steadily becoming more comprehensive.