The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03
2OO,OOO-VOLTX-RAY
ON CANCER CELLS
Pierces TWo-Foot Brick
Wall, Photographs Hand
Bones Block Away

NEW YORK. Dec. 2.-The opera
ton OF tho most powerful X-ray ap-
paratus ever built for the study of
cancer was demonstrated at the
Croker Cancer Researve laboratory
at Columbia university to call the at
tentlon OF the public to the subject
of the treatment of cancer.
During the week medical men in
every part of the country held meet
ings to carry on propaganda TO in
obtain immediate treatment. More
than twenty thousand persons a
year, according to DR.. Francis Carter
Wood, die of superficial cancer
which could in every case be easily
and painlessly cured il treated early.
The new &-ray apparatus, built
by the General Electric company on
plans worked out by Professors Hui.
Collidge and Davis, is so powerful
that no one is admitted TO the room
with it while it is producing rays.
The machine will drive rays through
a quarter OF an inch OF lead, n foot
of aluminium and two feet OF brick.
1t will photograph the bones OF the
hand a block away. X-rays of lessor
power used in the Crocker Research
laboratory a at 11Gth street and Am
sterdam avenue have penetrated
brick walls and concrete floors, fog
ging" or partially developing photo
graphic plates on the first floor wh en-
the X-ray appartus was used on the
third.
Scientists Protected by Lead Glass.
Scientists wear lead ernor when
they enter the same room with the
less powerful tubes. They take no
4. gs . 4,
staying in another room and watch
ing its action through thick lead
glass. which absorbs the most dan
gerous rays.
The new X-ray runs on a 10000
volt current. 1t produces rays less
than n fifth OF a blllionth of an inch
in length. The higher the voltage
the shorter the wave length. The
shorter the wave-length the more
deeply 1t will penetrate. Because of
the extreme shOrt-length rays which
1t produces. this machine can be
used with great effectiveness in
killing cancer cells in the internal
organs. But 1t will kill other cells,
too, and until the technic Of its use
is developed, there is danger that it
will kill the patient as well as the
disease, so that for the present at
least it will not be used on human
beings. according TO Doctor Carter.
Extremely penetrating rays have
been used with success in the treat
ment OF Internal cancer, the body Of
the patient being protected by lead,
except at the x)ot where the rays nre
applied. There is always danger OF
killing the flesh and muscle which
covers the affected internal organ
and also OF injuring other internal
] fha chart scatter
and involve much tissue IN addition
to the diseased area which is its
target. The safe use OF other appa-
ratus has been worked out, but for "a
long time the super-N-ra machine
will be used only on rats and guinea
pigs.
Although II Is hoped that the ma
chine will develop into a powerful
curative agency, il is being used eN-
clusively sRs measuring instrument.
The amount OF current used can be
exactly measured. Fairly exact
measurements can be made OF the
size and resistant power OF n tum0r
or cancer.
Tests on Thousands OF Animals.
Tens Of thousands ~ small animals
have been inoculated with cancer n,
the laboratory IN the course Of this
research. By studies over a perioa
Of years the qualities OF different
types Of cancer ana tumor nave been
determined, so that the life or grow
ing power Of resistance Of a growth
OF this kind can be accurately pre-
dicted. Cancer has thus been class!-
fled and standardized.
with the current exactly meas
ured and applied 10 a cancer whose
qualities are known II IL possible
TO determine just how much current
or how many rays are needed to XIII
a cancer cell" said Doctor Wood.
This Is an important research, be-
cause the rays are more or less IN
furious to the patient, and we want 70
find tho minimum Of radiation which
is necessary to Kill the diease cells
and TO infllct the least possible harm
on the normal ones.
In severe cases Of cancer 81 often
occurs that treatment sufficient TO
cure the cancer Is nearly enough TO
kin the patient, The effect on the
general constitution is graded ac-
cording TO the degree Of exposure. A
slight exposure to X-rays has no ef-
feet. A little more exposure may
hova q tousc affect. IL may atimu-