Just as there were extravagant claims made

for using x rays for the eradication of facial

blemishes such as birth‐marks and moles,
removal of unwanted hair and curing cancer,
early advocates met with considerable opposition
to the diagnostic use of x rays and it
often came from within the profession. Not
only did they oppose the use of x rays, they
openly condemned it. Dr. John S. Marshall in
June of 1897 told the members of the Section
on Stomatology of the American Medical
Association that he had intended to use the
rays in his practice, but had been deterred by
the danger. Tragically, many early pioneers
eventually developed fatal cancers from exposure
to tremendous amounts of accumulated
radiation received in monitoring and operating
the x‐ray apparatus. Dr. Kells himself
developed cancer that was attributed to radiation
exposure. Even so, he stated in the last
article he wrote “Do I murmur at the rough
deal the fates have dealt me? No, I can’t do
that. When I think of the thousands of suffering
patients who are benefited every day by
the use of x rays, I cannot complain. That a
few suffer for the benefits of the millions is a
law of nature.” Sadly, after years of suffering
and failed medical treatments, he committed
suicide in his dental office in 1928.