X-Ray History

X-Ray history dates back to the year 1895, when they were first discovered by Wilhelm Roentgen, a German scientist. While conducting an entirely separate experiment with a Crookes (named after its inventor) tube, Roentgen noticed that a small bottle in the back of his laboratory started to glow.  The bottle contained barium platinocyanide, a salt compound, and responded to the cathode rays produced by the tube Roentgen was using. Long story short, six weeks later he announced the discovery of x-rays. Roentgen was a bit of a mathematician, so the x was actually derived from the symbol for an unknown variable, much in the same way we use it in everyday algebra.

Long Term

The long-term implications of such a monumental discovery are astounding. X-rays have become a core element in the diagnosis process for nearly all areas of medicine: Oncology, Gastroenterology, etc. Virtually every specialty can and does utilize the x-ray. However, the case can be made that the largest benefactors from this technological advancement are those that deal primarily with the skeletal system such as orthopaedics and chiropractics. For these fields, the positive impact has been exponential.