RADIATION SICKNESS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 13

RADIATION SICKNESS

Recovery Of Scientists * (Rec. 8 p.m.) PARIS, February 15. Fiye Jugoslav scientists who suffered what .were thought to be fatal doses of nuclear radiation four months ago are on their way home, restored to full health at the Curie Hospital in Paris. British United Press reported. . A fault in the experimental reactor affected six scientists last October at the Vinca atomic pile in Jugoslavia. It was believed that the scientists—one of whom died in Paris a month later—had each received between 700 to 1000 roentgens of radiation. Theoretically, anything over 600 roentgens is considered to be sufficient to kill a man within a matter of days. Six days later; the six scientists were flown by chartered plane to Paris and taken to the Curie Hospital. Examinations and laboratory tests Showed that gamma rays had damaged or destroyed bone marrow cells, blood cells and even certain other vital body cells of the six patients. The body tissues that manufacture blood were also severely damaged and the white corpuscle count was dangerously low. French doctors decided to gamble everything on “transfusions" of hip and breast bone marrow from five healthy volunteer donors into the bones of the patients to create new blood-

Eighteen of these operations were necessary. Three weeks after the experimental treatment was begun, one of the six scientists died. The other five have completely recovered.