Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1962-04-07
Her SMolotov Cocktail at NH Brings
Interesting Series Of Isolated Events

looked and tasted like water. I learned that
I had just swallowed 81 micromicrocuries.
This didn't seem too drastic since the aver
age in the atmosphere is between 2 and S
micromicrocuries. However, to my very pleas
ant surprise, I suffered no reaction whatso.
ever
Fairly Glow
AS my doctor put it, you will fairly
glow now from the iodine" (He was referring
to the phosphorus, of course.) He was right,
but it wasn't because of that. Twas glowing
inside because thought how fortunate 1
was to be given this treatment at NH and
how confident and grateful am that this
would make me feel better than have felt
for almost six years.
This treatment Is not as immediate as
surgery, therefore it would be a minimum of
three months before its full effectiveness
could be determined inasmuch as it is verv
gradual process.
incidentally, every time the nurses or the
doctors came in to take my temperature.
blood pressure, or to take blood-they wore
rubber gloves. Before departing they first
washed the rubber gloves, removed the gloves.
washed their hands, and soaked their gloves
IN special solution. Also they wore film
badges which would turn different color
II they had contacted any excess radioactivity.
The day after / swallowed the iodine
doctor came in to take a large amount of
blood. This tube of blood was put before
geiger counter to count the amount of radio.
activity present and it was found to be O5
which is average. However, they kept me
over another day just to be absolutely Ger.
tain that it was SAFE
All Clear Sounded
Then the following day, before was in.
formed I could go that same day, man
from Radioactivity Safety took samples from
the room and took them to his laboratory for
tests to determine whether the radioactvity
had fully disappeared. When the "all clear"
was sounded I was finally allowed to take
my first bath in days! my younger son
couldn't understand my enthusiasm over
this.) The cleaning people were called in to
wash everything down, including my person
al items, as well as to even change the cur.
tains and mattress. They are most thorough.
My entire isolation period was quite an
experience. have been told by my NH doc.
tor that we can expect 80 per cent effective.
ness from this treatment failing this. per.
haps second and smaller dose may be indi.
Gated with a minimum of six months
Failing both of these treatments surgery is
the last resort. The trick, as it was explained
to me, is to calculate the correct dose of
iodine for every individual requiring treat.
ment as well as to- determine correctly the
amount of thyroid gland to be removed If
that is indicated. They don't know yet what
causes hypo and hyperthroid, but they do
know how to correct it.
would Hike to show my gratitude here
by thanking DR.. William c. Hall in Rockville,
my private physician, for making it possible
for me to be admitted for treatment at NH:
DR.. Jan Wolff, my NH physician, who has
put up with me for about five and one half
years and who has made it possible, through
progressive medical research, for my recov-
cry to be more of certainty than an uncer-
tainty; and all the wonderful white angles"
in West and the other staff personnel who
made my entire stay in the hospital seem
more like hotel visit instead