The First Demonstration of X-rays in Puerto Rico: June 1897

Röntgen's discovery made international news in January 1896, but the appearance of x-rays in Puerto Rico has been dated to 1911. This investigation was undertaken to identify the time, place, participants, and equipment of the first public demonstration of x-rays in Puerto Rico, document other users before 1911, and frame the events and persons in their social, professional, and international contexts.

Information was retrieved from digitized Puerto Rico newspapers available online and secondary printed and digital sources.

The first demonstration of x rays in Puerto Rico was organized by physician José Esteban Saldaña in June 1897 and included Francisco Pelati (who documented the event), an electrician; José C. Barbosa, Francisco and Pedro Del Valle, and Juan and Ricardo Hernández, physicians; and José A. Canals, an engineer. Other users prior to 1911 are documented.

Internationally, the first reaction to the discovery of x-rays was a mixture of wonder, experimentation, fascination with a scientific novelty carrying other-worldly resonance, and recognition of potential dangers. Puerto Rico was not an exception. The news arrived in seven weeks, although the equipment (apparently from New York) arrived a year and a half later (June 1897). The readily apparent common denominator for this group of first users is political affiliation, but they were connected by a variety of experiences, despite differences in race, class, and religious ideas. As in other places, x-ray use increased slowly and was available in several cities in Puerto Rico by 1911.