Measurement of the Diameters of the Living Eye by Means of X-Rays

Abstract

SEVERAL of the pioneer workers in röntgenology—Röntgen included—recorded the fact that X-rays are perceived by the dark-adapted eye. Similar observations were made on radium rays, which were even held to surpass ordinary light as a source of illumination to the partially blind: radium rays were in fact used by one observer¹ for teaching at a blind school. Conflicting reports rapidly led to loss of all interest in the matter, until Taft² in 1932 clearly established the visibility of X-rays, and Pirie³ simultaneously and independently directed attention to the possibility of 'reading with closed eyes' by means of X-ray light.