When did X-rays start being used?

In 1897, X-rays were first used on a military battlefield, during the Balkan War, to find bullets and broken bones inside patients. Scientists were quick to realize the benefits of X-rays, but slower to comprehend the harmful effects of radiation.

When were X-rays first used in hospitals?

The first use of X-rays under clinical conditions was by John Hall-Edwards in Birmingham, England on 11 January 1896, when he radiographed a needle stuck in the hand of an associate. On February 14, 1896, Hall-Edwards was also the first to use X-rays in a surgical operation.

What did they use before X-rays?

Before x ray machines were invented, broken bones, tumors and the location of bullets were all diagnosed by physical examination and a doctor’s best guess.