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Chapter 11 History Notes |
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| In 1895, a scientist named Wilhelm Roentgen was experimenting with electrical currents in a dark laboratory when he noticed that "electrified" air in a glass tube not only glowed, but left dark patches on photographic plates. To demonstrate this dramatic effect to an audience, Roentgen later would put his hand between the tube and a screen to show how this new energy could make images of human bones. His discover of the x-ray would be used medically for the first time to find shotgun pellets lodged in a man's hand.
The type of rays emitted by x-rays are identical to gamma rays, except that an x-ray originates outside the nucleus of an atom, whereas gamma rays are generated from the inside of an atom. A typical radiation dose from a chest x-ray adds up to about 10 mrem. The total average annual dose to the general population from medical x-rays, including those performed for dental procedures and emergency care, is 40 mrem. |
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