RADIO-THERAPY TREATMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19505, 13 June 1925, Page 9

RADIO-THERAPY TREATMENT.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS. INTERNAL DISEASES. (Fbok Oub Own Cobrespdndent.' LONDON, April 15. The application of X-rays to the treatment of serious diseases in the depth ot the body, extending the efEcaey of tile rays beyond the point of about ono inch below the skin to which they have hitherto been practically restricted, is being carried on at Guy’s Hospital with encouraging results. It was usually found that the rays applied expended their energy on tilts skin itself and set up in a. few minutes an acute inflammation without any beneficial action more than one inch below the surface. In order to overcome the trouble, filters were placed between the skin and the rays, various substances being employed, but although these filters lengthened the time that the skin could be exposed without burning, the rays that penetrated lower than an inch were practically negligible. Patient research work, it is claimed, has triumphed, and now, at Guy’s Hospital, apparatus is being used which is capable of generating 500,000 volts through tubes which can withstand a voltage ol 220,0G0 over a period of many hours. 'Hie higher the voltage the harder the rays that are generated, and the deeper they will penetrate. A protective filter consisting of aluminium or its equivalent! up to a thickness of 20mm absorbs all of what are ordinarily known as X-rays, but permits the passage of a practically uniform ray of extremely short length and high velocity. These rays will nenetrate the body as if it wore tissue paper, but at a depth of 4in only from 20 to 30 per cent, exort any influence on any particular place, the remainder for one reason or another being scattered. To overcome this defect the practice is resorted to of sending in rays not merely from one point, but from the front of the body, the hack, and the sides, all being directed to the object which is being treated. It is a sort of “cross fire’’ of radiation. The demand on the apparatus at Guy’s Hospital is so large that it is kept at work for nine hours a day without a break. Diseases of the most serious kind are being treated, and hopeful results have been registered. At present, however, the single apparatus at Guy’s Hospital is being called upon to do the work that should be done by three installations, so that there is no opportunity for continued research work along lines that seem promising. If the hospital were given £IO,OOO it conld provide and set up under adequate protection throe machines, inclusive of all costs of running.