Monday answer. See for yourself.
Gary Smyth
Dale gets the large gold star today. John a small one.
It is a Shoe Fluoroscope. Also called:
Foot-O-Scope, Pedoscope, X-Ray Shoe Fitter, Adrian, Simplex, Dr. Scholls.
It was pulled the first time (after WWI) because its use by shoe salesmen lowered the value of the occupation of radiation technicians in the science, military, and medical professions. (In WWI similar devices were used by field medical personnel to look at a wounded soldier�s foot while in their laced boots before treating them) The device was remarketed in the 1940�s and 1950�s by a new builder, a former employee of one of the originating firms as an aid to parents fitting shoes for fast growing kids.
Text for Radio Commercial
Every parent will want to hear this important news! Now, at last, you can be certain that your children�s foot health is not being jeopardized by improperly fitting shoes. STORE NAME is now featuring the new ADRIAN Special Fluoroscopic Shoe Fitting machine that gives you visual proof in a second that your children�s shoes fit. The ADRIAN Special Shoe Fitting machine has been awarded the famous PARENT�S MAGAZINE Seal of Commendation . . . a symbol of safety and quality to millions of parents all over America. If your children need new shoes, don�t buy their shoes blindly. Come in today, let us show you the new, scientific method of shoe fitting that careful parents prefer. STORE NAME invites all of you to visit us today for an interesting demonstration. We know that once you buy shoes that are scientifically fitted, you will shop at STORE NAME all of the time
The machine consisted of a unshielded fluoroscope in the cabinet. By looking through the view ports, the viewer(s), in most cases the salesman, Mother, and child, could see the outline in real time of the shoe, foot, and bones of the person inserting his or her feet in an opening in the bottom of the cabinet.
There were three major problems.
1. The fluoroscope was unshielded, located in a plywood cabinet, and located near groin height in the cabinet. There was also nothing to protect the eyes while looking at the result.
2. When it was on it had a ten foot diameter of radiation.
3. When the machine was turned on for about 20 seconds, average, it gave off about 15 rem each time it was turned on. The dose of radiation today is limited to a typical safe amount of 2 rem per year. (The rem (radiation equivalent man) is the unit of human exposure and is a dose equivalent (DE). (The international or SI unit for human exposure is the Sievert, which is defined as equal to 100 rem.) It takes into account the biological effectiveness of different types of radiation.)
Excerpts from Installation Directions:
�Before putting the tube in the X-ray Machine, place the machine in the most desirable location. . . . We would suggest that you center the machine in the store so that it will be equally accessible from any point. Of course, it should face the ladies� and children�s departments by virtue of the heavier sales in these departments.�
�At some time or other a customer may request an examination of the foot without the shoe for diagnosing a bone condition. We suggest that you refer this work to the professional man, and advise your customer to have an X-ray laboratory or doctor whose office is equipped with X-ray, make this inspection.
Doses
According to Duffin and Hayter (2000), a 1948 survey of x-ray machines in Detroit indicated that the exposure rates at the position of the feet ranged from 16 to 75 R/min. Measurements performed by Williams (1949) ranged from 0.5 to 5.8 R/second to the feet. He also reported exposure rates that were above 100 mR/hr at a distance of ten feet from the front of the unit. Bavley (1950) reported measurements of 1 to 175 mR/hr (60 mR/hr average) at a height of 18 inches above the floor and 9 inches away from the sides of the machine. The exposure rates 5 feet in front of the machine and 18 inches above the floor were as high as 65 to 160 mR/hr (average: 114 mR/hr)
Despite these relatively high exposures, there were no reported (Reported? Who knew?) injuries to shoe store customers. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the operators of these machines. Many shoe salespersons put their hands into the x-ray beam to squeeze the shoe during the fitting. As a result, one saleswoman who had operated a shoe fitting fluoroscope 10 to 20 times each day over a ten year period developed dermatitis of the hands. One of the more serious injuries linked to the operation of these machines involved a shoe model who received such a serious radiation burn that her leg had to be amputated (Bavley 1950).
Ya know, they don�t call medical doctors work �a practice� for nothing.
All information from the web: Paul Frame at framep@orau.gov
Copyright 1999, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
