Autopsy of the living A brief history of imaging science While
conducting an experiment with cathode rays, Wilhelm Roentgen,
Ph.D., noticed a strange glow on a distant cardboard screen.
Knowing that cathode rays could not pass through the obstacles
between his cathode ray tube and the glow, he proposed the
existence of a novel type of penetrating ray, which he called
the “X-ray.” After spending several solitary weeks analyzing the
rays, Roentgen published his findings in late December, along
with an eerie X-ray photograph (radiograph) of his wife’s hand.
Roentgen’s discovery opened up the human body without a single
incision. Soon, the medical profession was using X-rays to
locate lodged bullets and bone fractures. With the further
refinement of the technology and the development of contrast
agents, even soft tissues came into focus. Rock ‘n’ roll Despite
the improved resolution of contrast-enhanced X-ray images,
overlying bones obscured some parts of the body from view. By
moving the X-ray tube and film in t