Walter's Penetrometer
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Walter's penetrometer is an early historical instrument used to determine the quality of X-rays. It consists of a lead disk with small apertures covered by platinum plates of varying thickness, allowing operators to gauge X-ray hardness based on screen fluorescence.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
WALTER'S PENETROMETER (Walter), which is of exclusively historical significance, is one of the early instruments for determining the quality of X-rays. It is a lead disk containing 8 small circular openings arranged in two rows, covered with platinum plates of varying thickness (from 0.005 to 0.64 mm). It is placed in the path of the X-ray beam, and the quality of the rays is judged by the number of plates glowing on the screen: the greater the number of glowing plates, the harder the rays, and vice versa.
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Cite this page
“Walter's Penetrometer.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/walters-penetrometer/