Evening star., 1953-10-11

topes.
in mental institution, is part
of the exciting story of a new set
of tools that atomic science has
given to medicine.
The tools are. the radioactive
isotopes.
An isotope is a form of chem
ical element differing slightly in
it's molecular weight from the
usual makeup. Radioactive
simply means that the iSotope
has been bombarded with atomic
particles until it can emit radio
active rays.
Several elements are being
hammered into radioactive iso-
topes in atomic reactors and
under atom smashing machines
like the cyclotron and betatron.
Principal ones to date: Iodine,
phosphorus, gold.
Children with baby Marilyn'S
symptoms usually are diagnosed
as having one of two conditions,
cretiniSm or mongolism.
Cretinisnl is caused by lack of
development of the thyroid
gland, which hugs the Adams
apple, while the baby is growing
in it's mothers body. Untreated,
it leads to permanent brain in
jury and lifelong mental incom-
petence-but it can be cured.
Mongolism is due to poor func-
tioning of many glands. There
is no known treatment. Victims
usually die in childhood.
Suspected CritiniSm.
Marilyn's family doctor sus-
pected-and hoped-her trouble
was cretinism. To make sure he
referred her frantic parents to
DR.. Homer L. Hiebert at Stro-
mont-Vail Hospital in Topeka,
Kans.
DR.. Hiebert gave Marilyn some
water containing a tiny quantity
of radioactive iodine.
MysteriouSly, when iodine is
introduced into the body it makes
a rush for the thyroid gland.
The amount of iodine the gland
will absorb indicates how big
it is.
But how to tell how much
iodine is absorbed? That's where
atomic science comes in.
DR.. Hilbert Held a Gieger
counter over Marilyn's throat. In
a few seconds it clicked out the
story: she had less than 10 per
cent of a thyroid. The diagnosis
-cretinism.
The rest was easy. Marilyn
was dosed with hormone ex-
tracted from animal thyroids to
make up for what her own gland
failed to produce.
MariyIn was 212 months old
when she was taken to DR.. HE
bert Today, at Is months, she's
a lively, happy and chubby little
girl with every prospect of living
out a normal and useful life.
Made Up Lost Time.
Most astonishing-and most
heartening to parents of babies
like Marilyn-is the way she
made up for lost time after start
ling almost from scratch at 21a
months.
Marilyn and her family were
lucky. Kansas is one of the
leaders among States where
university or other research
center is sponsoring the use of
radioactive isotopes in smaller
communities.
The new tools have spread
only gradually over the nation
since the first shipments left
the atomic reactor at Oak
Ridge, Tenn, in August 1916.
They're still probably as far
away from you and your family
as the nearest big medical re-
search center, wherever that
may be.
Why? Because, unlike the an
tibiotics or any new drug, radio
active therapy requires consid-
erable training.
Must Be Re-trained.
Physicians must go back to
school or a hospital to learn
diagnosis and management of
patients. Hospitals must be
equipped with isotope labora-
tories, now costing about $2,-
900. There is a critical shortage
of the physicist technicians who
measure doses and install lab
oratories.
Despite these handicaps, the
use of isotopes is just about
doubling each year. Eventually
many general practitioners may
be able to use tracer" doses in
diagnosis in their own offices.
Besides spotting thyroid dis
turbances like little Marilyn'S.
isotopes are being used to track
down brain tumors and certain
types of heart disease, to allevi-
ate some kinds of cancer and to
treat a variety of other human
ailments. DR.. John B. Stanbury
of the Harvard University School
of Medicine calls them "the most
important medical discovery
since the microscope.
Radioactive phosphorus is used
to treat a condition known as
polycythemia vera. an excess of
red blood corpuscles, and leu
kemia or blood cancer.
/ Cancer of the male sprostrate
gland and swellings in the alb
domen and chest cavity are be-
ing treated with radioactive gold.
Locate Brain Tumors.