This is the hand of an X-ray technician from the Royal Hospital in London, photographed in 1900. The injuries visible on the skin were caused by repeated exposure to radiation. At the time, technicians would check and calibrate X-ray machines every morning by taking X-ray images of their own hands.
You might wonder — why didn’t they use protective equipment? The answer is simple: in 1900, no one yet understood the dangers of radiation. People believed X-rays were harmless. The machines were newly invented, and many were so fascinated that they even installed X-ray devices in their homes. Families would entertain their guests by showing them their own bones. Sadly, many of these early enthusiasts later suffered severe health issues, including cancer and amputations due to radiation burns.
X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, a German engineer and physicist. Unsure of what type of rays they were, he named them “X-rays,” with “X” symbolizing the unknown. In many countries today, they are still called “Röntgen rays” in his honor. Röntgen received the very first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 for this groundbreaking discovery, which transformed medicine forever.
However, the early years of radiology were filled with tragic lessons. Doctors, nurses, and technicians often exposed themselves repeatedly, unaware that prolonged contact could cause irreversible damage. Many suffered burns, loss of fingers, and serious illnesses. Some of the first pioneers in the field of radiology eventually died from complications caused by radiation exposure — they were heroes of science who paid with their health to advance medical knowledge.
Today, thanks to their sacrifice, strict safety protocols exist. Lead aprons, shields, radiation badges, and detailed exposure limits are standard in every hospital. What began as a dangerous curiosity became one of humanity’s most powerful diagnostic tools — saving millions of lives each year.
