In 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen's discovery of x-rays in this laboratory revolutionized science and medicine but did you know that x-rays may have been produced by William Morgan, a Welsh mathematician, more than a century before Roentgen's discovery? 

In 1785, Morgan was conducting experiments on electrical discharges in a vacuum when he noted that "according to the length of time during which the mercury was boiled, the 'electric' light turned violet, then purple, then a beautiful green...and then the light became invisible."(1) Morgan's experiment was witnessed by American diplomat Benjamin Franklin, a fellow investigator in electrical phenomena.(2)

	Within months of their discovery, x-rays proved their usefulness as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in medicine. X-rays allowed physicians their first non-invasive look inside the human body. Using the equipment pictured above Roentgen was able to produce this radiograph of his wife's hand after an exposure of more than 30 minutes. Less than a month later, in January 1896, Lindenthal produced the first contrast-enhanced radiograph of the veins of the hand. In March 1896, Pupin became the first to use the intensifying screen, without which most common radiologic exams would be impossible. In June 1896, only 6 months after Roentgen announced his discovery, x-rays were being used by battlefield physicians to locate bullets in wounded soldiers.
For more information on the Radiology Centennial or about Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen and the discovery of x-rays try these sites in Wurzburg and other places. These sites are in English and German.
A Century of Radiology: The Radiology Centennial Slide Set - Penn State University (Produced by Radiology Centennial Inc)  The X-Ray Century - Emory University  The Life of Ed C Jerman: A Historical Perspective  Australian Roentgen Centenary - University of Sydney  Medical Ethics and History - RSNA  Nobel Prizes for Research Involving X-Rays Return to Radiology Resources Return to the Medical Radiography Home Page Footnotes 1. Grigg, ERN. The Trail of the Invisible Light. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas; 1965. Go Back 2. Terrass, R. The life of Ed C Jerman: a historical perspective. Radiol Tecchnol. 1995;66:5:291. Go Back Return to Radiology Resources Return to the Medical Radiography Home Page This site maintained by Richard Terrass, M.Ed, RT(R). Address questions or comments to ricter@wn.net Last updated Feb. 24, 2000.