A small, worn box, adorned with a faded logo from the historic Wanamaker department store, has recently shed light on an important chapter in medical history. Inside this modest container, descendants of University of Pennsylvania physicist Arthur Goodspeed discovered two fragile glass plates that hold significant historical value.
These glass plates feature black and white images, albeit a bit fuzzy, showcasing a U-shaped metal frame of a coin purse alongside two dark circles, likely silver dollars or quarters. After being authenticated by university archivists and conservationists, these images are believed to be among the earliest X-ray images globally, predating the widespread use of medical X-rays and the establishment of academic radiology in the United States.
Following this discovery, Goodspeed’s family generously donated the plates back to the University of Pennsylvania, where they were exhibited for staff members, bringing an important piece of scientific history back to its origins.
In the late 19th century, specifically 1890, Goodspeed, alongside photographer William Jennings, engaged in an experimental endeavor to create images of various coins and brass weights using electrical charges. Upon completing their work, the duo carelessly stacked several photographic plates, leaving coins on top as they shifted focus to Crookes tubes. These tubes, which are glass cylinders functioning under vacuum conditions, demonstrated the behavior of cathode rays.
While conducting their experiments, the Crookes tube emitted radiation that inadvertently reached the nearby stack of photographic plates, resulting in faint circular marks or shadows when the plates were subsequently developed. Although puzzled by the unexpected results, Goodspeed retained the images, sensing their potential significance.
At the same time, across the Atlantic Ocean, German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was exploring similar principles with more intention and structure in his laboratory. Röntgen, through his experiments utilizing Crookes tubes and electric currents, discovered a method to capture imagery of rays that could penetrate objects, eventually leading to significant medical advances.
He published his groundbreaking findings in 1895, revealing the ability to visualize the internal structures of the human body based on X-ray technology. Goodspeed, upon reading Röntgen’s discoveries, recognized the parallels between their work and his earlier, accidental creation of shadow images.
The following year, in 1896, Goodspeed sought to expand on his historical accidents, replicating the process to produce new images, while collaborating with Penn surgeon Charles Lester Leonard to explore X-ray applications in medicine. Early examples of Goodspeed’s patient X-ray images, referred to as skigraphs or roentgenograms, included photographs of human skulls, revealing essential details about dental structure and cranial anatomy. These initial images remain preserved within the Yale Peabody Museum in Connecticut.
Despite Goodspeed’s pioneering efforts, the broader medical community took time to fully appreciate and comprehend the implications of X-ray technology. A 1903 New York Times article humorously referred to a scientist in Philadelphia discovering invisible rays emanating from the human body, dubbing them the ‘human ray,’ reflecting the miscommunication and slow dissemination of scientific advancements of the time.
Dr. Mitchell Schnall, a prominent radiologist at Penn, acknowledges the transformative nature of Goodspeed’s work, noting that prior to X-rays, medical professionals relied heavily on conjecture to diagnose internal ailments or locate foreign objects within the body. With the advent of X-ray technology, physicians could visualize previously opaque areas, allowing for quick assessments of broken bones, kidney stones, and other health issues that were challenging to identify.
In his ongoing quest to refine X-ray technology, Goodspeed developed a screening mechanism that enhanced safety measures for patients and practitioners by significantly reducing the radiation exposure required for effective imaging.
Dr. Schnall, who had long been aware of Goodspeed’s contributions to radiology, expressed enthusiasm upon witnessing the physical representations of these early discoveries in the recently rediscovered glass plate images.
The history of medical innovation reminds practitioners and scholars alike of the potential for groundbreaking advancements emerging from seemingly mundane or unexpected circumstances. Dr. Pari Pandharipande, chair of the Perelman School of Medicine’s Department of Radiology, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the critical need for vigilance and open-mindedness in the quest for future medical discoveries.
She urged the medical community to remain attentive and receptive, as many extraordinary developments in the field may arise from sources we cannot readily anticipate.
The glass plates containing Goodspeed’s early X-ray images will be safeguarded within Penn’s archives for future generations, exhibited temporarily on special occasions due to their vulnerability to light exposure. This rediscovery not only honors Goodspeed’s significant contributions to medical imaging but also inspires continued exploration in radiology and the broader medical field.
image source from：whyy
