Evening star., 1951-02-02
Atomic Medicine Makes
Slow but Sure Advances
Significant Specialized Uses
Of Radiation Reported
By Thomos R. Henry


Atomic medicine is making slow but
sure advances.
Far from the recalls sometimes rashly
predicted few years ago, special forms
Of radioactive atoms are finding highly
significant specialized uses. reports 10
the Atomic Energy Commission from its
own laboratories and from universities
indicate.
A new use for radioactive iodine, for
example, is in easing the pain of intract-
able angina pectoris. In some patients
with normally functioning thyroid glands
who are victims of angina, very minute
doses of the iodine isotope have been
found to ease the recurring chest pains,
Suffocation and fainting spells brought
on by effort or excitement. The theory
is that the treatment slows down the
thyroid to just the degree sufficient to
ease stress on the heart, but without
really interfering with thyroid function.
There has been some relief for go per
cent of the patients treated
New Radiation Source.
A new development is the use of radio
cobalt-nylon thread as radiation
source for certain tumor treatments
The radiation of cobalt Is very similar
nylon tubing may be stretched to small
diameter with good tensile strength, thus
forming thread suitable for sewing
into position with ordinary surgical
techniques. Radioactive cobalt wire may
then be inserted through this small
nylon tubing, to make very versatile
radiation source for treating tumors
otherwise difficult to reach.
Considerable eYtepsiopS bova hoar
made in the use of radiodiiodofluores
cein, dye containing radioactive iodine,
in detecting and locating brain tumors.
The method is based on the fact that
when this radioactive dye is injected
into patients blood stream it is taken
up more rapidly by most types of tumor
tissue than by ordinary brain tissue
dozen hospitals throughout the
country are using the method It iy
used in conjunction with the most sensi-
tive radiation detector developed to date
Flu is running its normal winter
course in the United States-and appar-
emily in most of the rest of the world.
Public Health Service officials see
little likelihood of any great pandemic
OF this virus malady sweeping this coun-
try-especially anything comparable to
the situation in 1918 when thousands
died of Influenza complications Very
few, If any, ever died of influenza per Sc.
There is a general inclination to dis
count the alarm caused by the present
English epidemic. which apparently is
an aftermath of an outbreak in Scan
dlnavia late last summer There is no
new and particularly virulent type Of
the virus involved, as was quite likely the
case in 1918. There have been many
deaths, but these largely have been
confined to the aged and infirm. Very
few young, vigorous people have sue
cumbed. The disease has been con-
fined largely to the north of England.
In the south there has not been much
more than the normal winter incidence.
The type appears quite similar to that
encountered nearly every winter some
where in the United States.
Vaccine Value Questioned.
The Public Health Service has had
some demand for wholesale vaccination
OF the population which, it appears,
would be rather silly under present cir
cumstances. The value Of any of the
flu vaccines on the market is somewhat
questionable. None can be relied on as
a complete protection, and the Public
Health Services only recommendation
on this score Is that scientific studies be
pressed harder in view of the possible
danger
1t Is urged that severe cases be treated
with some of the antibiotics, such AZ
penicillin or aureomycetin These, so
far as known, will not affect the flu
virus itself but will stave off possible
pneumonia complications, from which
most fatalities can be expected.