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Towards the end of the Nineteenth Century, the discovery of X-rays further enhanced medicine. Before Wilhelm RšntgenÕs discovery, the skeletal system could not be seen without removing the connective tissue. X-rays allow a photograph of the skeletal structure of humans or animals to be taken without any other parts of the body such as muscle, connective tissue, and the circulatory system, from interfering with the exposure. Immediately, the X-rays were applied to skeletal diagnosis. They can now be used to record the digestive tract via skiagraphismiii. Although this is a big breakthrough for all fields of medicine, it is very important in the fields of surgery and rational diagnosis.

Recently in this past century, advances in technology have increased the uses of X-rays. X-ray and radiation therapy have helped with determining diagnosis of various organ systems in the body. Abnormalities in the brain, thyroid, lungs, and the liver can be detected through the use of X-rays. Along with the new capabilities in medicine from X-rays, new occupations were created within the medical field as well. With a new great demand for X-rays, people were hired specifically to take X-rays.

GUNSHOT WOUND HAND X-RAY PHOTO
The little round black balls in the image above shows the pellets from the gunshot wound.
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Soon after Ršntgen's original discovery of X-rays in late 1895, others had begun investigating the possibility that the mysterious rays could kill germs. It was soon developed that the rays would kill tuberculosis, diphtheria, and other bacteria. Even certain types of cancers could be destroyed by these powerful rays.

After Ršntgen discovered X-rays, all fields of medicine were enhanced. Bones and other organs can be seen without surgery, jobs were enhanced, and germs and some types of cancers could be killed. This discovery has great importance to our lives, and has created amazing advances in a variety of fields.

TIMELINE

THE DISCOVERY of X-RAYS

HOMEPAGE

FUN FACTS AND PICTURES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

An example case that proves the new viewpoint and usage of these X-rays on the human body and medical sciences, was when a few days after Roentgen's initial public announcement of his discoveries, a doctor in America took X-ray photographs of a person with gunshot wounds in his hands.

Before RšntgenÕs discovery, a surgeon would have to locate the shotgun pellets though exploratory surgery, to find and remove them. Now, with the technology of X-rays, an X-ray can be taken and the shotgun pellets would be found without the process of exploratory surgery.