The earlystages of the disease caused mild symptoms for which many did not seek treatment. Early syphilis may last up to two years, and throughout this phase the disease can be transmitted, often unknowingly. This resulted in periodic epidemics of the disease throughout the world. The Wassermann test proved valuable until after World War II, when it was largely replaced with the VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) test in 1946. Similar in technique, the VDRL test used a more specific antigen (the substance capable of inducing the formation of the antibody), and was less difficult and time consuming to perform.
German physics professor Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen (1845-1923) made one of the most important and long-lasting contributions to medical diagnostics with his discovery of X-rays. Although discovered in 1885 and instantly recognized for its potential medical benefits, the practical matters of confirming Roentgen's work, and designing, manufacturing, and installing equipment delayed X-ray's availability in most hospitals until after the turn of the century. The first X-ray facilities in the United States were located in Boston, where physicians were soon overwhelmed with patients. By the end of World War I, X-ray machinery in hospitals throughout the United States aided physicians to visualize fractures and disorders of internal structures.
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