[Roentgen rays in the Spanish-American War]

The Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, only 28 months after Roentgen discovered some mysterious rays. It was a war of short duration in which bloody battles with numerous casualties took place in Cuba within a few days a period. In this conflict North American military physicians employed the recently discovered and poorly known rays in the study of gunshot wounds. The early use of x-rays in the first important war after their discovery reveals a great sensitivity and attention of is highest military command and an exemplary preparation of its Medical Camps to use potentially efficient modern means to achieve their goals. The use of x-rays in this brief but key war conclusively demonstrated the usefulness of this technique in the management of war wounds, brought about a revolutionary change in the methods and criteria of diagnosis and treatment, and represented an enormous benefit for this type of patient. The knowledge acquired was applied in medical and surgical environments throughout the world and profoundly transformed healthcare. This rigorous and opportune experience was a transcendental scientific advance in the field of medicine, is a landmark in the history of radiology and deserves to be well known and recognized by all, especially by those who later on made of these rays their specialty.