Mihran Krikor Kassabian (1870–1910). Textbook author & X-ray martyr

Abstract

The life of the American radiologist and electrotherapist Mihran Kassabian (1870-1910) is reviewed and provides a useful insight into the early work with X-rays in the first decade of the 20th century. Much material is drawn from Kassabian’s textbook. Commentary is given on his radiation injuries which were eventually to prove fatal when he was only 40 years of age. A bibliography of his publications shows how wide a spectrum was studied by Kassabian. The two quotations below were chosen by Kassabian to be placed before the Preface of his book and clearly show that his interests were not limited to radiology but also encompassed literature.