FURTHER OBSERVATIONS upon the TREATMENT of RODENT ULCER by the X RAYS
Authors: J. H. Sequeira
Journal: BMJ (1903)

progress, and on every side the growth was in an extending condition.There was nothing in the amount of lymphocytic infiltration in the mast cells and Unna's plasma cells which might not be mpt with in cases where no treatment had been carried out.The clinical diminution in size of the mass and the loosening of its deep connexions were difficult to explain; possibly they were dte to the disappearance of a sub-inflammatory oedema.Mr. Shattoek expressed " profound dis- appointment" at such a negative finding.One of the most recent;,writers on the subject, E. A. Codman, of Boston,7 thinks the effects of the * rays in cancer are due to stimulation of the nutrition of the part rather than to destruction of 'the malignant tissue. OTHER DISEASES.In regard to the effects of the x' rays in other diseases we can only give a rapid summary of cases r^ported by various workers; our own experience does not yet justify us in ex- -pressing a definite opinion on the value of the results.Some mention of them is necessary in order to show the range of therapeutic possibilities ofFered by the rays.Keloid.-We have treated a few cases of keloid with the x rays, in some of which there has been decided diminution in the growth.The effect of the treatment in easing pain has, however, been very marked.Lupus Erzythematosus.-Thisintractable disease yields much less readily to the therapeutic influence of light than lupus vulgaris, and the results of x-ray treatment are still less favourable.All our cases save one have improved considerably under the light treatment, although the improvement in some of them has been slow.In most there has been a tendency to relapse soon after discontinuance of the treatment.We have not treated any cases with the x rays, but good results have been obtained by Schiff, Jutassy, and others.Acne and Rosacea.-]Iyde,Montgomery, and Ormsby report that in two extensive and very severe cases of acne, which had resisted for months all efforts at treatment, the eruptive symptoms disappeared completely under the influence of the x rays.Jutassy, Scholtz, Schiff, and Hahn also observed favourable results in rosacea.Eczema.-Good results have been reported by Hahn and Albers-Schon- berg, Byde, Montgomery, and Ormsby, and others.Childs treated a case of eezema of the perineum and thigh in which the itching and then the eczema disappeared after six exposures.Psoria8si.-Wehave seen good results in chronic patches of psoriasis.Hyde, Montgomery, and Ormsby treated thirty-two cases, causing in each a temporary disappearance of the lesions.From four to ten treatments in a given group of lesions were usually sufficient to cause these to disap- pear entirely.Codman8 says that in his own experience the effects of the ,xrayin causing the disappearance of psoriasis and chronic eczema is "little short ot the miraculous."Hypertrichosis.-Schiff holds that radiotherapy is the only radicalitreat- ment for hypertrichosis, even when compared with electrolysis.In Maya z898, he reported with Freund, a series of seven cases of epilation.Jutassy also had good results.In nine cases treated by Hyde, Mont- gomery, and Ormsby, the hairs were removed in from sixteen to twenty treatments on a given area.In five there was a return at the end of six weeks or two months of a considerable portion of the hairs.After another period of two months a few hairs are again returning.