A century of x-rays and radioactivity in medicine

Towards the end of this century we celebrate three great discoveries of the last one - of X-rays in 1895, of radioactivity in 1896 and of radium in 1898 - and recall the pioneering achievements that founded the new science of radiology and changed the face of medicine forever. Dr Mould's comprehensive centennial history makes a unique contribution to the telling of this entertaining story - in the unusual and accessible style of a 'radiological photograph album'. Over 700 historical illustrations, with full and informative captions, are supported by short introductory essays to blow the dust off our fascinating radiological past in an easily readable style. The focus of this book is on the historically more interesting earlier years - of discovery and invention, diagnosis and therapy, dosimetry, risk and protection. The photographic record is complemented by archival accounts of the pioneer scientists and physicians, and of their early patients, and is interspersed with a variety of radiological anecdotes. In the several chapters on diagnostic techniques, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine the history is nevertheless brought up to date so that the old methodologies may be contrasted with newer technologies. The medical theme is itself complemented by two interesting chapters on museum and industrial applications of radiography. The predominantly photographic presentation of this book is derived from the author's earlier but smaller A History of X-rays and Radium, no longer available yet still of enduring interest. Research has been based on original source material which is fully cited and the illustrations and text are comprehensively indexed for easy retrieval of the wide variety of people, techniques, apparatus and examples featured throughout this radiological journey.