NEW ENGLAND HP MEETING ON XRAY SAFETY

[hodgdon@homer.yankee.com (hodgdon@yankee.com)]

Yesterday, Nov. 8, 100 years ago Roentgen discovered X-rays.  
Over 40 members of the NECHPS and NEAAPM  celebrated with 
dinner at the Sheraton in Lexington Massachusetts and heard 
two talks on developments in X-rays and safety.

Early X-ray equipment was on display and a talk was given about 
Roentgen and Coolidge (who improved X-ray tubes) by Dave Allard 
of ADL.  Dave played a 78rpm recording of a 1945 interview with
Coolidge's son.  Be sure to see the collection at the Boston 
Museum of Science.

The next talk was about William Rollins who used leaded glass 
as early as 1896 to protect the fluoroscope viewer.  He filtered 
and collimated beams to limit patient exposure and to improve image.  
Dr. Webster, the speaker, termed William Rollins the first HP. 

I recommend the first article in the November Health Physics 
Journal.  It contains a narrative and pictoral history of X-rays 
and safety in medicine.  With about 50 figures and photographs 
this is a good tutorial.

Andrew Hodgdon
member New England Chapter of the Health Physics Society
hodgdon@yankee.com