International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1934)

THE CINEMA IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 89 could be used to close the opening when desired, thus giving a preliminary radioscopy to discover whether the visceral part to be observed was entirely included within this opening, or as much of it as was needed. After this verification, the fluorescent screen was taken away, and we then proceeded to make the radiograph, applying the quarter of a radiographic frame of the dimension of 24 by 30 cm. (the photographic plate at that time was a double emulsion film placed between two reinforcement screens) on the opening of the leaden plate for each exposure. The duration of the pose was as short as possible. This radiographic system could be used not only with standing patients but also with those lying on a bed, or with an ampule functioning from above or from below. I illustrated this method at the 1 st Congress of Italian Medical Radiology at Milan in 1913 ; and, because it was so practical, slow seriography was introduced into nearly every Institute of Medical Radiology not only in Italy but also abroad, although its source was never stated. The idea was so simple and grew so naturally out of previous experiments in X-ray Cinematography, that it is no wonder if other have worked it out, quite apart from any suggestion of mine ; nor could there be any question of plagiarism. I was very pleased, however, to see that the work, given as the first on seriography in the most serious and complete Radiographic Bibliography that exists, published by Professor H. Goht of Berlin, which gives all publications on our branch of medicine, was mine. Cinematograph Films In 1908, and at the Obtained by Photo same Congress where graphing the Images Gr6deI had presented Revealed by the X , • D •• . _. „. his Kontgencmema Kay on fluorescent , f , , c tographs or the heart, Biesaldski and A. Kohler illustrated a process, worked out by Kohler the previous year, consisting in the cinematographic photography of moving images as they appear on the fluorescent screen. This brilliant idea occurred again, later on, namely, in 1911, to two French radiologists, Lomon and Comandon. Their technique, which was used for the first time in the Physics Laboratory of Professor Broca of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris, also consists in cinematographic photography, with a special lens, of the images on the fluorescent screen. I have summarised it from their works published between 191 1 and 1924. The practical realization of indirect X-ray Cinematography depended on various factors. (1) The fluorescent screen, which ought to furnish enough light to impress the photographic emulsion in a period of time not exceeding 1/32 of a second. (2) The photographic film, which ought to possess a very high degree of sensitiveness in respect to the special light emitted by the fluorescent screen, in order that the image might be fixed almost instantaneously. (3) Intensity of X-rays, which, in order to stimulate the necessary amount of light on the fluorescent screen in relation to the sensitiveness of the photographic emulsion, ought to be very strong, but not so strong as to compromise the durability of the Rontgen ampule which is always a very costly instrument, by working continuously or intermittently for several seconds, or so strong as to cause injury to the patient, who, exposed to the excessive action of this singular light, would undoubtedly run the risk of a very deep and serious and painful necrosis in the part irradiated, which might last for years and even prove incurable. This can now be avoided by making certain preliminary tests, to fix the innocuous intensity of the X-rays. (4) Lens of the cinemtographic machine, which ought to collect the maximum light of the fluorescent screen, which is not in itself very intense. (5) Protection of the film against the sensitizing action of the X-rays. The other questions to be settled in connection with indirect cinematography were the same as those connected with direct cinematography, but those associated with the changing of the photographs were extraordinarily facilitated by using a film reel which was