Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-13

Wide Field in Which Its Marvellous
Agency May Be Used.

From the New York Medical Journal.
The marvellous properties of radium
have made it a matter of wide interest to
almost every one, but to the medical man
its possible value therapeutic agent
renders it a subject of special Importance.
Already many investigators are turning
their attention to the treatment of various
forms of disease by means of radium. and
many fields have been proposed as prom
Using ones for investigation of its action.
For instance, among the various diseases
In which it has been tried may be men
toned certain malignant growths, such as
epithelioma and other superficial cancers.
lupus certain skin diseases, blindness from
atrophy of the optic nerve. etc. Its effect
upon micro-organisms and fermentation. as
well as its likely action upon the tissues
and fluids of the body, suggests that, If it
could be harmlessly introduced into the
system, a vast field of positive usefulness
lies before it. To take its effect upon
micro-organisms first: AS have stated.
IT is admitted to have a very considerable
irhibitory effect upon the functional ac-
tivity of various bacteria, molds, etc, and
1t is at any rate possible that II may
possess a like effect upon protocol This
at once suggests value for its systematic
employment, should such be practicable.
Now the property possessed by radiurn OF
fmparting its activity to various fluids e.
g.. normal saline solution, seems to offer
reasonable ground for hope that, In this
way, 1t may be thera POLITICALLY admins
tered internally and the fight against bac-
terial disease be waged directly in the
tissues affected. through the agency of the
blood and lymph Calculations and the vari-
Gus internal secret.ons
Another diseased condition In which the
induced radioa ctive salt solution Is likely to
prove of service is Preventative. CASTRO
intestinal Indigestion, with its long train
of symptoms due to autointoxica ton. 1t is
also hoped that the ''radium ffuid'' will
have a favorable effect on malignant dis
ease of the stomach and intestine.
AS to local employment, that Is already
under investigation. for radum has met
with more or less success in many super
fetal diseased conditions. Its local use,
however, will be found far more convenient
If we can get the desired results by the en-
solution. By this method we can use il as
local application congresses In
sprays. gargles, inhaIations, collyria, etc.
In It's use in surgical dressings, COM
presses can be saturated with this solution
and applied over large areas which could
not be reached by the radium rays.
AS a spray it will be found useful in
catarrhal affections of nose, throat and
lungs. by coating the membranes with a
fine film of radioactive matter This active
matter Is antiseptic and will remain in the
tissues for several hours. The radioac-
tivity of this active matter may be in
tensfffed by exposing the patient to the
ultraviolet rays, and by the internal use of
quinine.
While all these possibilities of the use of
radium fluid may not be borne out by
actual clinical experience, nevertheless, ow-
ing to the already known properties of
radium and induced radioactive substances
It is certainly worth while to try Themes
pecially in pathological conditions which
are not amenable to other forms of treat
ment.