The biological action of the beta rays of radium.

Abstract

Methods of radium therapy commonly employed consist in the application of the radium over the surface of the area to be treated or in the insertion into the tissue to be influenced of metal needles containing radium. In both instances the radium rays are filtered in such a manner that only the gamma rays penetrate into the tissues and act as a therapeutic agent. More recently a method of radium therapy has been developed by the aid of which not only the gamma but also the beta rays of radium are employed in therapy. This method consists in the following: Radium emanation—an elementary body in the state of a heavy gas—is the first active product of decomposition of radium. It is collected by means of appropriate apparatus in capillary glass tubes from 1 to 5 mm. long and 0.25 mm. in diameter. These tubes may be made to contain anywhere between 0.1 to several millicuries of radium emanation. They are inserted into the tissue to be influenced by the aid of a trocar. The thin glass wall of the capillaries filters off only the alpha rays and allows the free passage of both the beta and gamma rays. It is difficult to separate the beta rays from the gamma rays and study the biological action of the former, though R. Abbe made recently an attempt in the direction. However, the biological and therapeutic results obtained by the action of gamma rays alone and by the combined action of beta and gamma rays differ to such an extent that certain conclusions as to the action of the beta rays can be drawn. In coöperation with Michael Levine, the writer employed this method experimentally on normal and neoplastic tissues of animals and plants.