Customer Reviews

Naked To The Bone: Medical Imaging In The Twentieth Century

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I love reading science books geared toward non-scientists such as I. Bettyann Holtzmann Kelves Naked to the Bone: Medical Imaging in the Twentieth Century exactly fit the bill. Profusely illustrated and gracefully written, this fine work of non-fiction tells the story of x-rays, CT scan, MRI, sonograms, and PET scans. Kelves writes for the non-scientist, and does an excellent job of explaining how these various machines work, how they were perceived at the time, the economics of their development and marketing (Kelves never forgets that, for better or worse, medicine and inventing have always been businesses), and their changes in perception and use over time. Perhaps most interesting, and unexpected, are her two chapters addressing how medical imaging -- the ability to see "bones and all" -- was itself imaged in and influenced the visual, literary, and fine arts. Of particular interest to me, as a lawyer, is her accounts of how x-rays and other imaging devices were first used, and then later relied upon (or rejected) in courts of law. The depth and breadth of her research are truly impressive, as is her fine prose.

On page 92 of "Naked to the Bone", author Kevles gibes at the 1896 edition of "Practical Radiography", which through 20 years of reprints carried an inverted x-ray frontispiece captioned "The Human Heart in situ". She explains that "many people, including physicians, simply could not tell what they were looking at in a radiograph or through a fluoroscope." I would certainly wish her the same 20 years of reprints for her most informative and well- researched history, but before the second edition comes out she should correct the MRI on page 174, which is a dandy view of the cervical spine but which is inverted! Apparently, progress in medical imaging has far outpaced progress in editorial scrutiny over the past 100 years.

I listened to the interview on NPR's Science Friday several months ago thought how exciting can the discovery of x-rays be? I gave it a quick glance at a local book store and I was hooked. Did people actually buy lead lined underwear? Do physicians make mistakes? Even if they are treating the president of the United States? Lawyers found a way to profit from x-rays 100 years ago too. It is cleverly presented describing events as they occurred. I did find one fact that was not correct, the invention of television. According to the book, TUBE, television was invented 15 years earlier than what was mentioned in the book. Aside from that, I think it is an incredible story.