Evening star., 1950-08-11
Lemon Juice May Block
Death by Atomic Rays
Scientists Report on Tests
Made With Compound
By Thomos R. Henry

Lemon juice may be valuable anti
dote against the Still little understood
and often fatal radiation sickness, such
as would follow an atomic bomb ex-
plosion.
This is the substance of a report to
the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science here by Drs. Boris
Solokloff, James B. Redd and Raymond
butcher of the Southern Bio-reSearch
Laboratory at Lakeland, Fla. They have
made extensive tests with rats irradi-
ated with X-rays.
The lemon juice contains two major
vitamins. One is a quite complex sub
stance, yitamin P, which keeps up the
strength of veins and capillaries. One
of the symptoms of irradiation injury
is the breakdown of capillary walls, re-
sulting in numerous hemorrhages. The
other is vitamin c, the anti-scurvy vita
min. Its major use seems to be to acti-
vate the anti-hemorrhage factors.
Fifty Rats Used in Tests.
Fifty rats were used in the expert
ments, 20 serving as controls. The
others received vitamin compound
obtained from lemons. Sixteen of the
control group succumbed during the
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which survived were seriously affected.
In the group given 40 milligrams Of
the lemon juice compound the mortal
ity was reduced 40 per cent. Those
which received $50 milligrams showed
a reduction Of 80 per cent in mortality.
The compound was given both before
and after the irradiation. 1t may have
several effects, but the major one was
that of preventing increased fragility Of
the blood capillary walls, which appar-
emily is a major cause Of irradiation
deaths.
Only about 25 per cent of the United
States is adequately mapped.
Only two States, Massachusetts and
Rhode Island have been completely
mapped according to modern standards
and. at the present progress, about a
half century will be required to finish
the job for the entire country.
Work now is progressing rapidly on
third State, Kentucky, in a cooperative
project between the State and the United
States Geological Survey; and it is ex-
pected to be completed in five years.
During the past eight months approxi-
mately 10000 square miles Of Kentucky
have been photographed from the air
with the relatively new technique which
makes it possible to make maps from
photographs. Most of the work of the
air photographers is done in spring be-
cause the ground is mostly bare Of
winter cover and the trees have no
foliage to obscure important features of
the terrain.
Long Term Program.
The Geological Survey now is engaged
in a long-term program to map the
entire country. Fiexibility of the pro-
gram allows for faster pace in those
States wiling to match Federal funds.
Once the job is completed, according
to a Geological Survey announcement,
it will be relatively simple to revise the
maps from time to time to show new
roads, dams, villages and the changes
brought about by nature.
During the past 10 years topographic
maps of sorts have been made covering
approximately half the Nation. Many
of these, however. now are of limited
use because they are out of date or below
required standards of accuracy.
Current operations are being carried
out in most of the 48 States, Alaska,
Hawaii and Porto/Rico.