Clarence Madison Dally
Encyclopedia
Clarence Madison Dally was an American 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
s.
, one of four brothers. He enlisted in the United States Navy
at the age of seventeen, and served for six years.
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.
's discovery of 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 did 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."
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. Following this, Thomas Edison abandoned his research on X-rays. In 1903, a shaken Edison said "Don't talk to me about X-rays, I am afraid of them."
Glassblowing
Glassblowing is a glassforming technique that involves inflating molten glass into a bubble, or parison, with the aid of a blowpipe, or blow tube...
, noted as an assistant to Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
in his work on X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
s and as an early victim of radiation dermatitis
Radiation dermatitis
Radiation dermatitis is a skin disease associated with prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation. Radiation dermatitis occurs to some degree in most patients receiving radiation therapy, with or without chemotherapy....
and its complication
Complication (medicine)
Complication, in medicine, is an unfavorable evolution of a disease, a health condition or a medical treatment. The disease can become worse in its severity or show a higher number of signs, symptoms or new pathological changes, become widespread throughout the body or affect other organ systems. A...
s.
Early life and education
Clarence Dally was born in Woodbridge, New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, one of four brothers. He enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
at the age of seventeen, and served for six years.
Glassblowing
After obtaining an honorable discharge he went to work at the Edison Lamp Works in HarrisonHarrison, New Jersey
Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 13,620. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark, New Jersey.-Geography:Harrison is located at ....
with his father and brothers as a glassblower. Around 1890 he moved to the Edison Laboratory in West Orange
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
to assist in experiments with the incandescent lamp.
Edison X-ray focus tube
Following RöntgenWilhelm Conrad Röntgen
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was a German physicist, who, on 8 November 1895, produced and detected electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range today known as X-rays or Röntgen rays, an achievement that earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901....
's discovery of 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
Scheelite
Scheelite is a calcium tungstate mineral with the chemical formula CaWO4. It is an important ore of tungsten. Well-formed crystals are sought by collectors and are occasionally fashioned into gemstones when suitably free of flaws...
. The Edison fluoroscope produced sharper images than did the Röntgen fluoroscope, which used barium platinocyanide
Platinocyanide
A platinocyanide is a salt containing the anion Pt42-. Barium platinocyanide, BaPt4, was important in the discovery of X-rays, and in the development of the fluoroscope. One platinocyanide salt with interesting conductive properties is Krogmann's salt....
. 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
By 1900, Clarence Dally was suffering radiation damage to his hands and face sufficient to require time off work. In 1902, one lesionLesion
A lesion is any abnormality in the tissue of an organism , usually caused by disease or trauma. Lesion is derived from the Latin word laesio which means injury.- Types :...
on his left wrist was treated unsuccessfully with multiple skin grafts and eventually his left hand was amputated
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
. An ulceration on his right hand necessitated the amputation of four fingers.
These procedures failed to halt the progression of his carcinoma
Carcinoma
Carcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during...
, and despite the amputation of his arms at the elbow and shoulder, he died from mediastinal cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Dally is thought to be the first American to die from the effects of experimentation with radiation. Following this, Thomas Edison abandoned his research on X-rays. In 1903, a shaken Edison said "Don't talk to me about X-rays, I am afraid of them."