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X-ray Conservation
One of the most significant aspects of the Stannington Collection are the 14,660 radiographic images dating from 1936-1959. Fears surrounding the stability of the original radiographs meant that they were transferred to microfiche in the 1980s and the originals destroyed. We do however still retain 333 originals which offer examples of how x-ray images at the time were produced. They stand as unique illustration of the manifestation and progression of the disease in children and of some of the surgical procedures used crossing from the pre to the post-antibiotic era.
As part of the recent Wellcome Trust funded project all the radiographs have been digitised but the conservation of the original 333 radiographs still extant within the collection is nevertheless of great importance. All the radiographs were produced on cellulose acetate film, known as safety film as it replaced the earlier nitrate film that was highly flammable and potentially self-combustible, a problem for many film archives today. Over time the cellulose acetate film naturally breaks down, the early stages of this are recognisable by the strong smell of vinegar coming off the film as the process gives off acetic acid and because of this is known as vinegar syndrome. Eventually as the base of the film and the top layer pull away from one another the film will begin to buckle and crack and bubbles can form under the surface.
This process is already evident in several of the radiographs we hold as well as some of the microfiche images as they had clearly already begun to degrade at the time they were transferred to microfiche in the 1980s. Unfortunately there isn't anything that can be done to reverse or halt the process but by storing the films in a closely monitored temperature and humidity controlled environment we hope to delay the process in most of the radiographs for as long as possible. Nevertheless the vast majority of the images remain easily readable and the digitisation process will mean that they remain clearly accessible for future use.
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