Clarence Madison Dally: Difference between revisions

Following [[Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen|Röntgen]]'s discovery of X-rays in 1895, Clarence and his brother Charles worked on the development of the Edison X-ray focus tube, developing the [[fluoroscope]] using [[scheelite|calcium tungstate]]. The Edison fluoroscope produced sharper images than did the Röntgen attemptfluoroscope, towhich inventused a[[barium]] fluoroscope[[platinocyanide]]. At the time, the levels of X-rays produced were not believed to be dangerous,. howeverHowever, Edison noted how "the x-ray had affected poisonously my assistant, Mr. Dally."

These procedures failed to halt the progression of his [[carcinoma]], and despite the amputation of his arms at the elbow and shoulder, he died from [[mediastinal]] [[cancer]]. Dally is thought to be the first American to die from the effects of experimentation with radiation. Following this, Thomas Edison abandoned his research on X-rays. In 1903, a shaken Edison said "Don't talk to me about X-rays, I am afraid of them."<ref>Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library : Edison fears the hidden perils of the x-rays. ''New York World'', Aug 3, 1903, Durham, NC.</ref>