A Possible Development in Roentgen Therapy

Abstract

RECENTLY Hughes and Binz (1), It reported certain experimental observations on the therapeutic use of nascent iodine in irradiation therapy. While their work represents only a preliminary observation, the potential possibilities of enhancing the value of irradiation therapy along the lines presented by the authors is great. We quote as follows: “The idea was conceived to synthesize an organic, chemically stable iodine compound of low toxicity from which nascent iodine or an active chemical radical could be liberated by roentgen irradiation after its intravenous administration. The purpose was not to produce a compound whose secondary radiations would have a therapeutic value or enhance the value of the irradiation itself. It was proposed rather to obtain a chemically stable pharmacologically inactive compound per se, which, under the influence of external forces such as roentgen irradiation, might undergo activation of its chemical structure such as liberation of nascent iodine or an active chemical radic...