Mobile X-Ray Lab
by Shiloh
Origin of the Mobile X-Ray Lab
- The history of this device really coincides with it's founder's, Marie Curie.
- Marie's Radium Institute had just been founded when Germany declared war on France, and all of her researchers were being drafted for the war.
- In fact only two people were left at the Institute, Marie and a mechanic who could not join the war due to a heart condition.
- Wanting to help the war effort and realizing the usefulness of her invention Marie started finding ways to make her invention mobile.
Function & Advantages
- In the war, the mobile x-ray lab was essentially a van equipped with x-ray gear inside.
- It served as a vital medical device for care and treatment.
- With it things such as bullets, broken bones, and internal injuries could be seen much easier.
- This prevented death and long-term injuries to patients.
- Indirectly this invention was a big advantage to any army that had it.
- Through the quick healing this machine brought, soldiers who would've been injured for life maybe could quickly be treated and sent back home or the battlefield if they wanted.
Issues
- The vehicles required to mobilize the machine and carry it onto the battleground wasn't cheep. In fact Ford's Model T was invented in 1908 and the war began in 1914.
- People had to be taught to use the machine of which Marie Curie didn't know how to operate either at first.
- Radiation: overexposure can have some serious negative effects on the human body as Marie soon found out herself; but most soldiers didn't have to worry about this - it was mainly the people operating the machines.
HD Historic Archival Stock Footage WWII - Portable X-Ray On Duty At Front 1943