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The Burning Question: Early U.S. Radiology and X-Ray Burns, 1896-1904

Ford, Benjamin James
; 
Ford, Benjamin James
Title
The Burning Question: Early U.S. Radiology and X-Ray Burns, 1896-1904
Date
2016-01-01
Subject
x-rays
Roentgen
radiology
American X-Ray Journal
Heber Roberts
x-ray burns
Material type
Collections
Graduate Theses
History Graduate Theses
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Ben_Ford_0137421.pdf
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URI
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13013/548
Abstract
Early radiologists experienced occupational injuries that they called x-ray burns. Between 1896 and 1904, early U.S. radiologists debated the cause of these injuries. Using the American X-Ray Journal, I identify at least half a dozen competing theories. Notably, early U.S. radiologists seemed to resist the conclusion that their injuries were directly caused by exposure to x-rays. I argue that the early U.S. radiologists demonstrated vocational bias against concluding that the technology around which they were forging a new discipline was inherently dangerous. I also argue that this bias was left unchecked by a dearth of conclusive evidence that x-ray burns were directly caused by exposure to x-rays.
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Advisor
Chomsky, Avi
Sponsor
Course
Department
History
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Source
Publisher
Research Projects
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