The effect of roentgen rays upon the electrical excitability of the human eye.

Abstract

The electrical excitability of the eyes following an irradiation of the eyes by Roentgen rays was measured by the method of electric flicker. 1. The effect of Roentgen irradiation appeared with a latency of a few minutes, and attained a maximum in about 15 to 20 minutes to disappear in about 30 to 60 minutes. 2. The effect increased with the intensity of Roentgen rays, but with doses far above the threshold intensity the effect was almost in-dependent of the dose used. The effect depended on the total energy, but little on the stimulus duration. 3. When the eyes covered with lead plates were irradiated by Roentgen rays, some effect could be observed, and it was shown that this effect was due to the direct action of scattered Roentgen rays upon the eyes. 4. The change of ΔS, following illumination with white light for a period of 10 minutes, was measured. In this cases the time course of ΔS was different from that for Roentgen rays. The latency and the recovery time were much shorter than those for Roentgen rays.