The original caption may contain language which is historic and which may no longer be considered appropriate. It has been retained in the record in the interest of historical accuracy.
The caption on the reverse of the photograph reads: “Double-tube deep X-ray therapy. At the Mount Vernon Hopsital, Northwood, Middlesex, there is in use a deep X-ray therapy machine which has two tubes, each carrying 250,000 volts. The tubes are adjustable horizontally (sic) and vertically in every direction, and both tubes can be used simultaneously on the same patient. The control panels and indicator dials are outside the room. Picture shows the control panels and dials. The patient can beeseen (sic) through the wondows (sic), which are of special lead glass impervious to the rays. It is also arranged that should anyone inadvertently enter the X-ray room while the current is on the opening of the door automatically switches the current off.”
Used to treat tumours, and with more energy than X-rays used for diagnostic radiography, ‘deep’ or orthovoltage X-ray machines were first built in the 1920s. These were more penetrating than low voltage X-rays, but could still only reach shallow tumours. Thus, increasing the voltage was necessary – in the 1940s, ‘megavoltage’ X-rays, produced by machines with up to 5 million volts, were used. To reduce patient discomfort and increase voltage, multiple X-ray tubes were operated simultaneously on patients beginning in the mid-1920s. The Mount Vernon Hospital, opened in 1904, was designed primarily for the treatment of tuberculosis; following the First World War all of its 130 beds were used for tuberculosis patients. In 1928, with the number of deaths from cancer at record level, the hospital became a general hospital at the request of the hospital governors. It became known as The Empire Centre for the Treatment of Patients Suffering from Cancer, whilst retaining the hospital’s original name. The deep X-ray apparatus was installed, leading specialists were employed, and the hospital began to treat cancer patients from the country and throughout the British Empire. See also MED01/01/0508 and MED01/01/0510-0512. High-resolution copies of this image are available for free for non-commercial use. Please Enquire to place an order.
This is part of the Series: MED01/01 Series of prints; within the Collection: MED01 Topical Press Agency Medical Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Photographer: Topical Press Agency Limited
Photographer: Harrison, Norman Kingsley
Hospital, Radiography Department, People At Work, Women's History, Health And Welfare
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