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{{Short description|American glassblower and early victim of radiation dermatitis}} |
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'''Clarence Madison Dally''' (1865– October 2, 1904<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=|title="C.M. DALLY DIES A MARTYR TO SCIENCE."|last=|first=|date=October 4, 1904|work=The New York Times|access-date=}}</ref>) was an American [[glassblowing|glassblower]], noted as an assistant to [[Thomas Edison]] in his work on [[X-ray]]s and as an early victim of [[radiation dermatitis]] and its [[complication (medicine)|complication]]s. |
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'''Clarence Madison Dally''' (January 8,<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939N-8WXT-6?i=225&cc=1825347&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXG9Y-H3P |title=Weekly returns of enlistments at Naval Rendezvous ("Enlistment Rendezvous"), Jan. 6, 1855-Aug. 8, 1891 : Record Group 24: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, National Archives and Records Administration, M1953 |publisher=United States Navy - Bureau of Naval Personnel |year=1891 |edition=N/A |location=College Park, Maryland |pages=119 |language=English}}</ref> 1865 – October 2, 1904<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=C.M. DALLY DIES A MARTYR TO SCIENCE.|date=October 4, 1904|work=The New York Times}}</ref>) was an American [[glassblowing|glassblower]], noted as an assistant to [[Thomas Edison]] in his work on [[X-ray]]s and as an early victim of [[radiation dermatitis]] and its [[complication (medicine)|complication]]s. He is thought to be the first human death resulting from X-ray exposure.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2011 |title=Early victims of X-rays: a tribute and current perception |journal=Dentomaxillofacial Radiology |volume=40 |pages=123–125|pmc=3520298 |last1=Sansare |first1=K. |last2=Khanna |first2=V. |last3=Karjodkar |first3=F. |issue=2 |doi=10.1259/dmfr/73488299 |pmid=21239576 }}</ref> |
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== Early life and education == |
== Early life and education == |
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Clarence Dally was born in [[Woodbridge, New Jersey|Woodbridge]], [[New Jersey]], one of four brothers. He enlisted in the [[United States Navy]] at the age of |
Clarence Dally was born in [[Woodbridge, New Jersey|Woodbridge]], [[New Jersey]], one of four brothers. He enlisted in the [[United States Navy]] at the age of sixteen,<ref name=":1" /> and served for six years. For a time he served as a [[gunner's mate]]<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Percy |url=http://archive.org/details/american-martyrs-to-science-through-the-roentgen-rays-percy-brown |title=American Martyrs To Science Through The Roentgen Rays |publisher=Thomas Books |year=1936 |edition=1st}}</ref> on the [[USS Enterprise (1874)|USS Enterprise]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Penn's Grove Record 07 Oct 1904, page 4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/884876272/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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== Glassblowing == |
== Glassblowing == |
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== Working with Edison == |
== Working with Edison == |
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[[File:Edison using a calcium tungstate flouroscope. Wellcome M0015487.jpg|thumb|Edison using a calcium tungstate flouroscope to examine a hand by X-rays. The man with Edison has been identified as T. Commerfod Martin but is more probably Clarence Dally.]] |
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Dally was a favored employee of Thomas Edison. He was entrusted to help demonstrate Edison's new fluoroscopic machine at the 1896 National Electric Light Association exhibition.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Brown|first=P|date=January 1995|title=American martyrs to radiology. Clarence Madison Dally (1865-1904). 1936.|url=https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.164.1.7998548|journal=American Journal of Roentgenology|volume=164|issue=1|pages=237–239|doi=10.2214/ajr.164.1.7998548|issn=0361-803X}}</ref> |
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Dally was a favored employee of Thomas Edison. He was entrusted to help demonstrate Edison's new fluoroscopic machine at the 1896 National Electric Light Association exhibition.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Brown|first=P|date=January 1995|title=American martyrs to radiology. Clarence Madison Dally (1865-1904). 1936.|journal=American Journal of Roentgenology|volume=164|issue=1|pages=237–239|doi=10.2214/ajr.164.1.7998548|pmid=7998548|issn=0361-803X}}</ref> Some sources list Clarence Dally as having been on standby with the X-Ray equipment in Buffalo, New York in case it was to be needed by doctors operating on President William McKinley after he was shot on September 6th, 1901.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Magazine |first1=Smithsonian |last2=King |first2=Gilbert |title=Clarence Dally — The Man Who Gave Thomas Edison X-Ray Vision |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/clarence-dally-the-man-who-gave-thomas-edison-x-ray-vision-123713565/ |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref> However, this was not Clarence Dally, but his brother, Charles, also an assistant of Edison. He was accompanied by fellow Edison employee Charles Luhr.<ref name=":3" /> |
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== Edison X-ray focus tube == |
== Edison X-ray focus tube == |
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== Radiation effects == |
== Radiation effects == |
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By 1900, Clarence Dally was suffering radiation damage to his hands and face sufficient to require time off work. Due to him being right handed, he used his left to test the beam from the machine. This caused his left hand to be affected before his right.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gagliardi|first=R A|date=November 1991|title=Clarence Dally: an American pioneer. |
By 1900, Clarence Dally was suffering radiation damage to his hands and face sufficient to require time off work. Due to him being right handed, he used his left to test the beam from the machine. This caused his left hand to be affected before his right.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gagliardi|first=R A|date=November 1991|title=Clarence Dally: an American pioneer.|journal=American Journal of Roentgenology|volume=157|issue=5|pages=922|doi=10.2214/ajr.157.5.1927809|pmid=1927809|issn=0361-803X}}</ref> In 1902, one [[lesion]] on his left wrist was treated unsuccessfully with multiple [[skin graft]]s and eventually his left hand was [[amputation|amputated]]. An [[ulcer (dermatology)|ulceration]] on his right hand necessitated the amputation of four fingers. |
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These procedures failed to halt the progression of his [[carcinoma]], and despite the amputation of his arms at the elbow and shoulder, he died from [[mediastinal]] [[cancer]]. Dally is thought to be the first American to die from the effects of experimentation with radiation.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ritenour|first1=Mary Alice Statkiewicz-Sherer, Paul J. Visconti, E. Russell|title=Radiation Protection in Medical Radiography|date=1998|publisher=Mosby|location=St. Louis, MO|isbn=978-0815128960|pages=38|edition=3rd}}</ref> Following this, Thomas Edison abandoned his research on X-rays. In 1903, Edison said "Don't talk to me about X-rays; I am afraid of them."<ref>Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library: "Edison Fears the Hidden Perils of the X-Rays", ''[[New York World]]'', August 3, 1903, Durham, NC.</ref> |
These procedures failed to halt the progression of his [[carcinoma]], and despite the amputation of his arms at the elbow and shoulder, he died from [[mediastinal]] [[cancer]]. Dally is thought to be the first American to die from the effects of experimentation with radiation.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ritenour|first1=Mary Alice Statkiewicz-Sherer, Paul J. Visconti, E. Russell|title=Radiation Protection in Medical Radiography|date=1998|publisher=Mosby|location=St. Louis, MO|isbn=978-0815128960|pages=38|edition=3rd}}</ref> Following this, Thomas Edison abandoned his research on X-rays. In 1903, Edison said "Don't talk to me about X-rays; I am afraid of them."<ref>Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library: "Edison Fears the Hidden Perils of the X-Rays", ''[[New York World]]'', August 3, 1903, Durham, NC.</ref> |
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== Personal life == |
== Personal life == |
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Dally was survived by his wife and two sons.<ref name=":0" /> |
Dally was survived by his wife Maud and two sons, Ralph and Clarence.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS7F-Y6G |title=1900 United States Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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*{{cite journal|last=Brown|first=Percy|year=1995|title=American Martyrs to the Roentgen Rays|journal=American Journal of Roentgenology| |
*{{cite journal|last=Brown|first=Percy|year=1995|title=American Martyrs to the Roentgen Rays|journal=American Journal of Roentgenology|volume=164|issue=1|pages=237–9|orig-year=1936|doi=10.2214/ajr.164.1.7998548 |pmid=7998548}} |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110816170318/http://home.gwi.net/~dnb/read/edison/edison_xrays.htm "Edison fears hidden perils of the x-rays", New York World, Monday, August 3, 1903, page 1] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110816170318/http://home.gwi.net/~dnb/read/edison/edison_xrays.htm "Edison fears hidden perils of the x-rays", New York World, Monday, August 3, 1903, page 1] |
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[[Category:People from Woodbridge Township, New Jersey]] |
[[Category:People from Woodbridge Township, New Jersey]] |
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[[Category:Projectional radiography]] |
[[Category:Projectional radiography]] |
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[[Category:Thomas Edison]] |
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[[Category:Deaths from cancer in New Jersey]] |
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in New Jersey]] |
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[[Category:Glassblowers]] |
[[Category:Glassblowers]] |
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[[Category:American scientists with disabilities]] |
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[[Category:19th-century American scientists]] |
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{{US-scientist-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 03:28, 17 November 2023
Clarence Madison Dally (January 8,[1] 1865 – October 2, 1904[2]) was an American glassblower, noted as an assistant to Thomas Edison in his work on X-rays and as an early victim of radiation dermatitis and its complications. He is thought to be the first human death resulting from X-ray exposure.[3]
Early life and education[edit]
Clarence Dally was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, one of four brothers. He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of sixteen,[1] and served for six years. For a time he served as a gunner's mate[4] on the USS Enterprise.[5]
Glassblowing[edit]
After obtaining an honorable discharge he went to work at the Edison Lamp Works in Harrison with his father and brothers as a glassblower. Around 1890 he moved to the Edison Laboratory in West Orange to assist in experiments with the incandescent lamp.
Working with Edison[edit]
Dally was a favored employee of Thomas Edison. He was entrusted to help demonstrate Edison's new fluoroscopic machine at the 1896 National Electric Light Association exhibition.[6] Some sources list Clarence Dally as having been on standby with the X-Ray equipment in Buffalo, New York in case it was to be needed by doctors operating on President William McKinley after he was shot on September 6th, 1901.[7] However, this was not Clarence Dally, but his brother, Charles, also an assistant of Edison. He was accompanied by fellow Edison employee Charles Luhr.[4]
Edison X-ray focus tube[edit]
Following Röntgen's work on X-rays in 1895, Clarence and his brother Charles worked on the development of the Edison X-ray focus tube, developing the fluoroscope using calcium tungstate. The Edison fluoroscope produced sharper images than the Röntgen fluoroscope, which used barium platinocyanide. At the time, the levels of X-rays produced were not believed to be dangerous. However, Edison noted how "the x-ray had affected poisonously my assistant, Mr. Dally."
Radiation effects[edit]
By 1900, Clarence Dally was suffering radiation damage to his hands and face sufficient to require time off work. Due to him being right handed, he used his left to test the beam from the machine. This caused his left hand to be affected before his right.[8] In 1902, one lesion on his left wrist was treated unsuccessfully with multiple skin grafts and eventually his left hand was amputated. An ulceration on his right hand necessitated the amputation of four fingers.
These procedures failed to halt the progression of his carcinoma, and despite the amputation of his arms at the elbow and shoulder, he died from mediastinal cancer. Dally is thought to be the first American to die from the effects of experimentation with radiation.[9] Following this, Thomas Edison abandoned his research on X-rays. In 1903, Edison said "Don't talk to me about X-rays; I am afraid of them."[10]
Personal life[edit]
Dally was survived by his wife Maud and two sons, Ralph and Clarence.[2][11]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Weekly returns of enlistments at Naval Rendezvous ("Enlistment Rendezvous"), Jan. 6, 1855-Aug. 8, 1891 : Record Group 24: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, National Archives and Records Administration, M1953 (N/A ed.). College Park, Maryland: United States Navy - Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1891. p. 119.
- ^ a b "C.M. DALLY DIES A MARTYR TO SCIENCE". The New York Times. October 4, 1904.
- ^ Sansare, K.; Khanna, V.; Karjodkar, F. (2011). "Early victims of X-rays: a tribute and current perception". Dentomaxillofacial Radiology. 40 (2): 123–125. doi:10.1259/dmfr/73488299. PMC 3520298. PMID 21239576.
- ^ a b Brown, Percy (1936). American Martyrs To Science Through The Roentgen Rays (1st ed.). Thomas Books.
- ^ "The Penn's Grove Record 07 Oct 1904, page 4". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ Brown, P (January 1995). "American martyrs to radiology. Clarence Madison Dally (1865-1904). 1936". American Journal of Roentgenology. 164 (1): 237–239. doi:10.2214/ajr.164.1.7998548. ISSN 0361-803X. PMID 7998548.
- ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; King, Gilbert. "Clarence Dally — The Man Who Gave Thomas Edison X-Ray Vision". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ Gagliardi, R A (November 1991). "Clarence Dally: an American pioneer". American Journal of Roentgenology. 157 (5): 922. doi:10.2214/ajr.157.5.1927809. ISSN 0361-803X. PMID 1927809.
- ^ Ritenour, Mary Alice Statkiewicz-Sherer, Paul J. Visconti, E. Russell (1998). Radiation Protection in Medical Radiography (3rd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. p. 38. ISBN 978-0815128960.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library: "Edison Fears the Hidden Perils of the X-Rays", New York World, August 3, 1903, Durham, NC.
- ^ 1900 United States Census. United States Census Bureau.
Further reading[edit]
- Brown, Percy (1995) [1936]. "American Martyrs to the Roentgen Rays". American Journal of Roentgenology. 164 (1): 237–9. doi:10.2214/ajr.164.1.7998548. PMID 7998548.
- "Edison fears hidden perils of the x-rays", New York World, Monday, August 3, 1903, page 1