In 1928, Carling established a radium centre at the Westminster Hospital, where with the assistance of his son Francis Carling, he set up the first "radium bombs". An example of a "radium bomb" can be seen at the Science Museum Group in the Medicine: Wellcome Galleries.[2] Rock Carling became a member of the Medical Research Council and the Radium Trust that year.
In 1929, Carling authored a Course of instruction in radium practice. His later publications include: British Surgical Practice (which he wrote with J. P. Ross in 1947).[3] Rock Carling was a member of several committees related to nuclear energy and was chairman of both the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the Radium Commission of the Central Health Services Council. He was also Chairman of the British Ministry of Health Cancer Commission.[4]
In 1950, following the publication of an estimate of the human toll of a hypothetical atomic explosion over London, Carling stated that "to live in the atomic age is perforce to accept the implications: Fully faced they are robbed of half their terrors."[5] In 1951, he was quoted in American newspapers as stating that efficient medical treatments had been developed to counter the effects of almost all known biological weapons.[6]
In 1954, Rock Carling opened Britain's first Cobalt therapy cancer treatment unit at the Bristol General Hospital.[7]
In 1955, Carling wrote British Practice in Radiotherapy with B. W. Windeyer and D. W. Smithers.[3]
