RADIUM TREATMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 23, 26 December 1925, Page 6

RADIUM TREATMENT

WORK AT CHRISTCHURCH. GOOD RESULTS REPORTED. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 23. . NotobS .»»■<•i i».be « d 'E interesting , re P‘? r ra Jium department rtTSA ° f D?' , Kwick .toted that during tho ss=s,lisaf# had "been given and 40 applications of deep X-rays. The total attendances in th The < de t ?a?t a meJt e began' in November 1924 with a very small quantity of radium 45 milligrammes m all. These were purchased by a bequest from tho llte Miss Barret and the element was contained in six needles. tneso are still in daily use and are most valuab Tn Tanuarv the '• large supply of radium arrived and the total. supply, is now 458 milligrammes contained in 97 needles, seven plaques, and 15 tubes. In August last Dr. Fenwick obtained a small supply of thorium for use, m skin diseases. The department had soino success in. these cases. “The original deep therapy X-ray tube was difficult to manage, he continued. “The treatment was very lengthy and many patients could not undergo treatment without much fatigue and occasional sickness Ihe board replaced this tube with the new water-cooled tube and this has given the greatest satisfaction. The time of treatment has been reduced to onequarter of that required by the old tube. We have had no complaints of sickness or fatigue from patients. The life of this tube is not known, but one tube in America is stated to have operated for over 2000 hours. \\e have had so many advanced and hopeless cases that tho death rate is necessaiily high, but even in these cases I am glad to record that many patients have stated that the pain has been much relieved. “During the past year the number of attendances has been 3831. Radium has been applied 1614 times and 491 treatments by deep X-ray therapy have been given. Tho follow-up system which I instituted immediately the department was opened has proved, I think, a distinct success. Seventyfive' reports by post have been received and more than 300 reports in person have been made. The advantages of this system are obvious. Each case remains in touch with the department and if any report is not satisfactory the patient is asked to return for re-examination. Although we have had many disappointments it can be claimed honestly that in many cases severe pain has been relieved and some advanced cases of external cancer have been arrested.”