Mass X-ray by Mobile Clinic
Page 19
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New Ministry of Health Laboratou Provides for 20 Examinations an H our. Pictures Processed
on Vehicle
BYw" of extending its mass .X-ray service, the Ministry of Health has. rxently put into service a new mobile unit, which enables pictures to be taken and processed with the same speed and efficiency as when the mass X-ray apparatus is set up and worked in a
The interior of the new vehicle_ is divided into two compartments by a fixed partition and a light-tight door. The forward part is the examination compartment, where the X-ray apparatus is installed, and in the rear section is the "waiting-room," which can be turned into a darkroom for processing films.
Examinees pass through a canvas awning covering steps at the rear, which give access to the " waiting-room," and pass on to the X-ray compartment. _where they are examined at the rate of 120 an hour. Thi; speed.. is not less than that maintained in the average well-organized static station.
The body of the outfit is of the caravan type and is mounted on a standard Leyland Beaver 12/1 chassis. hernial insulation of the body has been provided by filling the cavity between the outer skin and the interior plywood panelling with a multi-layer celluloseacetate packing. A heater-cooler unit, located at the forward end of the examination compartment, is resport-.. sible for maintaining control of the interior temperature.
• In order to keep thc vehicle perfectly steady when X-ray photographs are being taken, jacks, fixed by locking
devices, are arranged at each corner of the body. The examination room is equipped with a high-tension generator, X-ray tube column ;unit, screening and camera unit, a contrOl unit, and-protective screens and curtains.
A cassette hopp4, fitted near th,:t camera in the partition separating the examination room and the darkroom, enables films to he passed through for large film examinations while the rear chamber is in use for processing. Another fitment to E the partition is a hinged writing desk with drawers.
Trailer Generator Unit
Normally. electri0 energy is taken from the mains supply, the laboratory requirements being /30 volts, 20 amps., single-phase, for lighting and heating, and 230 volts, 75 amps., single-phase, for the X-ray outfit; For emergencies there is a 24-volt battery lighting system, which is maintained from the vehicle dynamo or from a mains battery charger.
Should the outfit be operating in an area where adequate power to operate the X-ray unit is not available, a trailer oil-powered alternator of 20 kVA capacity can be brought into service.
As an example of the thoroughness with which the darkroom is appointed, there is, in addition to hot and cold water, a supply of filtered water for washing miniature films in which even the smallest blemish must be avoided.
The Ministry of Works, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Department of Health for Scotland, was responsible for. the design of the outfit, and Samuel Elliott and Sons tReading), Ltd., Cayershant, built the body.