Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1962-04-07
BY Margaret Burton


No doubt you have read lot about
radioactivity in connection with the radiation
of atomic and H-bombs and fallout shelters,
but have you read much about radioactive
iodine and its many helpful and relatively
new treatments?
I was privileged to be admitted to the
National Institutes of Health very recently
for the purpose of drinking a Cocktail of
radioactive iodine to help cure my hyper
throidation. We have all been treated with
iodine at one time or another for cuts and
the like, but not with radioactive iodine, per-
haps. This is what I called my "Molotov
cocktail" because it was such a powerful
drink! Gan organic compound of thyroid
extract iodine, and phosphorus; iodothyrin).
/ even had my own private fallout shelter
because was in isolation for several days
at NH. (There was window in the room
and l had TV, radio and telephone) I was
kept in isolation so that nothing, or no one
would become contaminated. Everything that
came into the room had to remain there,
and nothing went out of the room including
myself
Isolation Procedure
I was briefed with regards to just what
this isolation entailed, along with radioac-
tivity precautions such as
/. could take no shower for three days.
q | must wear hospital pajamas, robe
and scuffs.
3. My own clothes were put into clothes
closet and I was not permitted to disturb
them until l was ready to leave the hospital.
a. Soiled linens went into a special ham.
per for special decentralization.
3. | pushed a cart to the door at meal
times and stood back quite distance while
the nurse served me my food on paper plates
and paper cups When the nurse departed,
retrieved my meal from the doorway
g. Once the meal was eaten, scraps and
trash were dispensed with in large camping
paper bag kept in the wastebasket and later
on disposed of because of contamination.
Z washed my own silverware made
my bed emptied ash trays, etc. and set UP
light housekeeping.
g. Lastly, was placed on a 24hour urine
collection which l also took care Of The
urine was collected in a gallon bottle with
a preservative. The gallon bottle was then
stored in large Inch thick. lead pot about
2 feet in diameter, which remained in the
room for the duration of my isolation as did
the other things mentioned above.
Panic Button
Here's the kicker - if 1 spilled anv urine
or food the nurses pushed the panic button
and called the Radioactivity Safety team to
come decontaminate the room! Il was strong
~ tempted to do this just to see what ex-
element could stir up! After all, things
were somewhat Gull for several days. In
any case the room had to be decontaminated
before | could leave the hospital room and
go home.
Ten days after I arrived in the hospital,
preparatory to drinking my Cocktail" two
handsome, young NH doctors came into nv
room pulling behind them formidable look
ing lead pot about 2 feet in diameter with
Inch thick walls mounted upon a wooden
platform with casters Inside of the lead Dot
was smaller sized lead pot containing the
iodine I was urged to open both lead pots
and unscrew the bottle top of the iodine. It
was not at all what I had imagined. It