Evening star., 1938-06-30
NEW CANCER UNIT
TO Be BUILT HERE
Bureau of Standards to
Develop Method of
Measuring Rays.
By WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.


electrical institution-to be used by
the Government to aid the medical
profession in its battle against cancer
is to be erected on the grounds Of
the Bureau of Standards in Cleve-
land Park.
Plans Tor the buildings and equip
ment have been developed under di-
rection Of DR.. L. J. Briggs, head Of
the bureau, but these will have to 60
to the Procurement Division Of the
Treasury Department for study and
approval. It was indicated today that
it Is probable that contracts for the
buildings will be let before the end
Of the summer
One Of the primary purposes Of the
new institution will be to develop IN
accurate method of measuring the
electrical currents now used in thera-
peutic radiology. Leading hospitals
and medical associations have long
sought to have the Bureau of Stand
ards undertake this work. The pres
OAAb AdNA1tlSo vi Vic OuACNu d1C I'LL.
tied to 10000 volts, and it was added
that many hospitals now have X-ray
equipment for working up to 5000
volts. From the standpoint of these
hospitals, it was asserted, it is i'm
portant that the facilities of the
bureau be extended to develop appara-
tus for celebrating dosage meters for
these higher ranges.
Changes viii Be Studied.
Study Of the changes that occur in
cancerous and other living tissue as
a result of X-ray irradiation, it was
asserted, will be one of the important
subjects Of investigation by the Ma
tional Cancer Institute. These studies
will include the use of high-voltage
X-rays and there is need for knowing
the wave length and the intensity Of
the X-rays employed. With the ad-
vent of the latter study the need for
the proposed extension Of standardiz-
ing facilities for X-rays becomes even
more important. It was pointed out
that the response of cancerous tissue
to X-rays may prove to be highly
dependent upon the wave length Of
radiation. Precise Standardization of
measurement of X-ray intensity and
wave length will be necessary to guide
the National Cancer Institute In these
Investigations.
Three Types Of Radiation.
Explaining the goal to be sought
by the new institution, DR.. Briggs
said that radium gives out three types
of radiation and one type is very
similar in character to that emitted
by powerful x-ray tube, so that
there is perfectly logical reason for
using X-ray tubes to supplement
radium, but there is also q difficulty
The difficulty is partly tied up with
this lack of facilities for standardiza-
ton.
DR.. Briggs explained that the typ<
of radiation coming from an X-ray
tube depends upon the design of the
tube and upon the voltage and char
acter Of the current by which it is ex-
cited. Furthermore, he continued, the
X-ray spectrum Is more or less anala-
gous to the spectrum of light broken
down into red, yellow, green, blue and
violet colors.
Not Single Sharp Wave.
In other words, he continued, the
radiation coming from an X-ray tube
is band of different wavelengths;
it Is not q simple sharp wavelength
It happens that the long wavelengtt
X-rays do not penetrate well into the
deep tissues, but are absorbed by the
surface tissues. Some Of them art
even absorbed readily by the skin, and
they produce severe burns, 30 that one
Of the problems ahead of this stand.
ardizing laboratory is to devise better
means Of filtering out this type Of ra.
diation that Is not wanted, to leave
mainly the more penetrating radiation
that will get to the deeper tisses. II
that way, he said, there will be gained
all of the advantages Of the X-ray
tube and eliminate the disadvantages
Three buildings are to be construct.
ed for use in this work. It was esti-
mated that these would cost $254, 600
and another $253 900 would have beer
needed for equipment, total Of $507,.
600. Congress appropriated $500,00(
for the project.