The purpose of this paper is to suggest that in the x-ray treatment of acute infections considerably less radiation may be effective than is generally supposed; that small fractional doses daily or twice daily may be more effective than a single larger dose, and that exacerbations which not infrequently do occur following larger doses may be avoided by dividing the initial dose. The use of x-radiation in the treatment of infections has been known and advocated for at least ten years. A number of papers by well-known authorities have appeared on the subject. The rationale of treatment and the mode of action of the x-rays have been fairly well established and need not be repeated in detail here. We may state briefly that following x-ray treatment there is a systemic reaction tending to increase the bacteriolytic and bacteriophagic powers of the circulating blood (1). This reaction may be either in the nature of a general immunization or, more probably, a setting free of the products of the destruction of le...
Read full abstract