Magneto-medicine

The author gives a general review of recent advances in the application of magnetic phenomena in the practice of medicine. The development of X-ray, and then of magnetic resonance tomography is summarised, emphasising the crucial role of the computer in solving the massive mathematical computation problems involved, and the richness of the information revealed by NMR as compared with that provided by X-rays. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magneto-encephalography are then discussed. (C.J.O.G.)