Evening star., 1933-04-25
Liver and Spleen Ailments
Diagnosed by Means of
Injections.
RESULTS ARE OUTLINED
FOR MEDICAL SESSION
Chief of Philadelphia Research In
stitute Also Addresses Today's
Meeting of District Society.

Pioneer work in the use Of the new
method of diagnosing diseases of the
liver and spleen was described to the
District Medical Society at its opening
session this morning Of its annual two
day scientific meeting by D. Wallace
M. Yater. professor of medicine at
Georgetown University Hospital and
chief Of medicine at Gallinger Hospital.
Studies made here by Dr. Yater and
his associate, DR.. Laurence S. Otell re-
suited in development of diagnosis Of
liver ailments by injection into the veins
every day for three days Of thorium
dioxide solution. On the fourth day
X-ray pictures are taken. Ordinarily
these organs do not show up well on
X-ray plates, but after the thorium
dioxide injections the shape and struc-
ture Of both spleen and liver may be
clearly seen.
Size Can Be Determined.
In this way physicians are able to
determine whether these organs are
enlarged, whether there is fluid in the
abdomen. whether such diseases as can
Ger and cirrhosis of the liver are present
and whether a large mass in the left
side of the abdomen Is an enlargement
Of the spleen or tumor of some other
organ.
The substance which makes this
diagnosis possible, DR.. Yater declared.
is a compound OF thorium, heavy
metallic element related to radium. 1t
differs from radium. however, he said,
in that it has practically no radio ac-
nd dc cot fn
first investigated in Germany, but the
Georgetown physician was the first to
put it into practical use in this country.
Nearly 100 physicians from Mary
land, Virginia and West Virginia, be-
sides the District members of the as
sociation, had registered for the con-
vention at noon today. Many were
accompanied by their wives, for whom
a separate program of entertainment
had been arranged by the ladies' auxil-
iary Of the local society.
Besides DR.. Yater, those who spoke
this morning included Drs. Cecil King,
Michael McInerney, Antoine Schneider,
Mathew White Perry. Paul F. Dickens,
Walter A. Bloedorm and H. H. Letter.
DR.. Rowntree Speaks.
This afternoon DR.. Leonard G. Rown-
tree. director of the Philadelphia Insti-
tute for Medical Research and formerly
chief of medicine at the Mayo Clinic,
paid tribute to the scientists throughout
the world and particularly in America
who have contributed to the funda-
mental knowledge Of the ductless gland.
He outlined recent advances made in
treatment Of diseased endocrine glands
and discussed the relation of sex hor-
mones to various physiological condi-
tions
Treatment Of gland diseases, arthritis,
sinus infection and tuberculosis in chill
dren also was on the program for dis
cussion this afternoon. The speakers
were to include Dr. Guy w. Leadbetter,
DR.. William H jenkins, DR.. Rowntree,
DR.. Otell, DR.. Harry A. Spigel and DR..
William j. Cusack.
These serious discussions will be dis
torted in mock-seriousness tonight
when the local doctors entertain at
their annual banquet, to be held in the
Shoreham Hotel. Visiting physicians
also will come in for their share of
Kidding" Ten acts, some with elabo-
rate costumes, are scheduled, and Jack
Mullane, local theatrical agent and
costumer, is billed as the producer Of
the show.
At noon today q luncheon was held
for members and guests in the May
flower Hotel. This afternoon wives Of
visiting doctors were taken on a motor
trip to points Of interest around Wash
ington.