NEW X-RAY CURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22928, 5 January 1938, Page 8

NEW X-RAY CURE

SOME REMARKABLE RESULTS TREATMENT OF RHEUMATISM [fhom OCR owx correspondent] LONDON", Dec. 18 Discoveries of the highest importance & concerning the curative use of X-ravi k were revealed by Dr. S. Gilbert Scott, % the radiologist, when delivering the Mackenzie Davidson Memorial Lecture v before the British Institute of Radio- , logy at the Central Hall, Westminster, gi He described a system of "wide-field" fjj X-ray therapy, by means of which "re- Oi markable clinical results' 1 have been obtained in many diseases hitherto considered outside the scope of X-ray treatment. Certain types of chronic rheumatism, blood and glandular diseases are among those successfully treated. The treatment consists of giving tka patient an "X-ray .bath." Its under- ? lying principle differs from that upon % which existiug methods are based. f Dr. Scott explained that X-rays hav# } been used mainly for their sffcct on a localised part of the body. Very penetrating X-rays, for example, nef# directed in large and destructive doses |j on to tumours or cancerous growths. This method, which, unfortunately, is associated with severe upset of the | j patient, could be described as surgical v X-ray therapy, said Dr. Scott. The new method might be called v "medical X-ray therapy." Instead-, of large destructive doses, small applica- vj tions of X-rays of medium penetration are passed through a thin metal filter ,v on to the whole of the patient s body. • The dose is so small that any sever® upset of the patient is avoided, vet the curative effect is very marked. , investigations have been carried out over a long period at the L|sy:ion Hus- | pital. Important advances;, have b» en - made recently by the use of a blood | test by which it is possible to register the effect of the treatment -on „ the patient. «' Xo definite theory can be offered to 4; explain the curative effect, but it « suggested that X-rays in such j doses affect the functioning of the d>iet- . less gland system. This apparent'.* stimulates the natural defensive ,-j inherent in the body. „ 11