X-rays saved by archive

SCORES of old X-rays of patients' limbs have been digitally reproduced by an organisation set-up to preserve historical health items in the city.

The Lothian Health Services Archives found the documents, which date back to 1932, had deteriorated in quality.

As a result they were binned, but not before being archived in a more durable format to add to records showing how the procedure has changed over the years.

Workers at the NHS Lothian and Edinburgh University-funded group said the old X-rays smelled of vinegar, a tell-tale sign that they were on the decline. The organisation also backed up DVDs of X-rays onto computer hard drives.