At the end of the 19th century, X-rays seemed like a miracle. They made it possible to see inside the body without surgery, but no one knew the price some pioneers would have to pay.
Doctors and technicians worked for hours in front of equipment that emitted high doses of radiation, often using their own hands to prove that the device worked. Without protection and unaware of the risks, they began to suffer burns, ulcers, loss of fingers, and even amputations.
The striking images that still circulate of severely damaged hands are a reminder of an era when science advanced faster than knowledge of its dangers.
Thanks to those painful experiences, lead aprons, exposure controls, and strict safety measures now exist, making X-rays an essential and much safer tool for modern medicine.