Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-19
Fatal Doses of Radiation
Indicated byWhite 'Auro'
Finding Promises to Aid Diagnosis
OF Atomic Bomb Blast Sickness
By Thomas X. Henry

VI AtoAAC DolllD DldSt OlckneSS
By Thomas X. Henry
pearly white death aura" which ap-
parently Is an almost certain indication of a
fatal dose Of radiation has just been reported
to the American Association for the ADJ
vancement of Science here
It promises to be important, not only in
diagnosing fatal cases Of radiation sickness,
such as would result from an atomic bomb
explosion, but in reaching a better under
standing Of this mysterious malady.
AS yet there is no explanation of the
phenomenon, according to DR.. Robert L.
Rosenthal Of the radiation laboratory Of the
University of California who carried out the
work under Navy contract.
Plasma Basically Involved.
Dr. Rosenthal was investigating the blood
CLOTHING caused by heavy x-radiation OF
rabbits. In specimens Of blood plasma from
which all the white and red cells had been
removed the pearly opalescence appeared
within about "a hours and lasted for about
48 hours. All the animals whose blood
showed this phenomenon died within few
days. Other rabbits whose blood did not
show the strange opalescence survived for at
least a month
Efforts to relate the phenomenon to the
diet of the animals have revealed nothing.
in weight or white or red cell counts. There
also seems to be no relation with the rate
at which the fatal X-ray dose is given.
The blood serum has been split into its
components by whirling In centrifuge and
a chemically mysterious substance has been
obtained which appears responsible for the
major part Of the opalescence.
The nature of the radiation sickness which
killed thousands in the bombed Japanese
cities week or more after the bombs fell
still Is mystery. although it probably has
several components. The curious opalescence
indicates that something in the blood plasma
is basically involved.
rs per cent increase in egg production
by new poultry breeding method is
described in report just made to the Amer
lean Association for the Advancement of
Science here.
Over period of Is years, reports H. D.
Goodale Of Williamstown, Mass. it has been
possible to raise the weight Of the eggs laid
by each hen per year from Blob to SAIL
ounces.
The increase is both in the number of
eggs and in the average weight Of each egg
The hens also are longer-lived. II the
decline in losses Is taken into account the
increase in efficiency amounts to 1868
per cent.
Describes Method.
Mr.. Goodale breeds by what he calls the
family method" which varies quite widely
from poultry breeding methods used else
where. He describes it as follows:
Pairs whose chicks rate highest In the
qualities desired by the breeder are given
an opportunity to have more chicks. Mean
while new generation Of parents is Sc
lected from members of families with the
highest ratings. But of this generation Of
parents only those few whose chicks rate
the highest are retained. This process, re-
peated generation after generation on a
sufficiently large scale. has thus far pro-
noted a constantly rising average of those
qualities which the breeder seeks to improve.
1.-THE method consists in setting aside en-
tire families of full sisters which are all
held-good bad and indifferent-for Is
months after the first hatch is placed in
the laying houses. 1t proved much easier
to increase the number Of eggs, leaving the
egg size constant. than to combine the de-
sired egg size with high rate Of lay and
early maturity, but this has finally been
ACCOMPLISHED"