The surgical application of the Roentgen rays is already an old story, at least as far as the surgery of the bones, more particularly in the extremities, is concerned. Their medico-legal utility is a later demonstration, though it might readily be inferred from any brief consideration of their effects. A young woman, an actress, broke her ankle while descending a stairway in an English theater. A suit for damages was instituted against the proprietor, on the claim that the accident was due to a defective step. This seems to have been proven or admitted as the defense was made that the injury was exaggerated. A Roentgen shadowgraph, presented before the jury, secured the plaintiff her case, the evidence being held to be incontestable.
It will be easily seen how the pictures obtained by these rays will figure hereafter in damage suits, but this is only one of their possible medico-legal