Document 2JQg1oEb044RGa9vMagQ0mg6a

hydrogen), accelerated in the magnetic field ot the cyclotron, strike the target of the machine. Until recently, on the basis of acute experiments with .. the assumption was grained that neutrons were more than five times as effective as roentgen rays Tor biologic purposes. Recent work * and the sad expe rience of these young physicists point to the probability that a grave underestimate was made and that for cer tain organ systems, such as the lens and the gonads, neutrons may have four to eight times the effectiveness originally suspected. Unfortunately for the physicists, protection pro cedures and exposure limits were based on the earlier assumption. Once again, as in the past with roentgen rays and radium, people have unwittingly been injured before an adequate understanding of a hazardous agent was had. Furthermore, even now dosimetric methods for neutrons are unsatisfactorv. f An understanding of the mechanism of interaction | of radiation with the components of biologic matter t becomes important. In the case of roentgen rays the energy is first given to electrons, which move at high speed through the tissue. These electrons in turn dissipate their energy by collision with biologic matter, t causing chemical alterations. However, the damage to any one ceil by one electron is relatively small. In the case of neutrons the energy' is principally dis rated by collision with the hydrogenous component p:i tissue. The high speed protons thus set in motion liberate a large amount of energy per unit length of path. Thus the passage of one high energy proton through a cell may produce sufficient destruction to injure it permanently. There is evidence that roentgen rays are relatively effective only against dividing cells, while neutrons may injure the cell at any phase. Thus the biologic effects produced by neutrons may be both quantitatively and qualitatively different from the effects of the roentgen ray. The urgency for research in this relatively unex plored field is evident. In a broader sense, the experience of these young physicists points to the tremendous responsibility devolving on those--both the physicist-engineers and the agencies supporting their work^wfio are concerned with exploring the- new frontiers of the physical sciences. It is not enough to dismiss the responsibility with the mere warning that a danger may exist or to extrapolate, as was done with the neutron, from inadequate analogies. The biologic implications of the new unknowns should he subjected to investigation >arallel with their physical implications and with equal rigor. 6. Stone, R. S.: Xeutr.-n Therapy an,! Snetine Ioniaation, .\flT J, Roentgenol. 5fl: "1-785 (June) liM*. tlvani, T. C-: The Kl'lreu ol Small Dail> Uow* of Fait .Ventruin uti Mite, Radiology SOi 811-834 (.lime) 1948. T^ASBESTOSIS AND CANCER OF THE LUNG Until recently the coexistence of ashestosis and can cer of the lung was considered by many investigators a coincidence. Since 1935, 23 such cases were recorded hv American. English and German physicians, edler 1 2 * noted 14 cases of ashestosis cancer in a series of 92 necropsies on patients with ashestosis. or al>out 1? per cent of cancer of the lung in j>ersons who died from this industrial disease. The exposure time ranged from 3 to 27 years (average 15 years). The ages in 17 cases were 35 to 75 years (average 50 years). Until now the question of a causal relation between coashestosis and cancer of the lung lias lieen an ojien one. The recently published Annual Rejiort of the rrs Chief Inspector of Factories in England for l'.U7 provides additional data on the actual existence of such interrelations.^ During 23 years. 1924 to 1946 inclu sive. 235 deaths, either caused by asliestosis or in which ashestosis had been established at necropsy, were reported to the Giief Inspector. Cancer of the lungs or pleura was found in 31 of these cases (13.2 per cent). Of the 12S male deaths in this group 22 (17.2 per cent) were complicated by cancer of the lung, while of the 107 female deaths 9 (S.4 per cent) were similarly affected. The mean age at death from asbes- tosis complicated by cancer of the lung was 52.1 years. A causal relation between ashestosis and cancer of the lung is supported by the following observations: The incidence rate of cancer of the lung in this group is excessive, since the normal death rate from cancer of the lung among adults examined at necropsy at present is about 1 per cent of all necropsies. Moreover, there is a distinct shift in the sex distribution of cancer oi the lung in the series of ashestosis cancers reported from England. The male-female sex ratio is 2.4:1, while it is 5:1 for cancers of the lung in general. This shift indicates that an environmental and evi dently occupational carcinogen was active in the asbes- tosis group, tending to equalize the incidence rate of cancer of the lung for lioth sexes. Recent experimental observations support this interpretation of clinical evi dence. Xordmann and Sorge * exposed mice to inhala tion of asbestos dust and found that in 20 per cent of the surviving animals there developed squamous cell cancer originating _lrom ihc^ bronchial nnicoar while other types of epithelial proliferation were present in 42 to 57 per cent of these animals, in addition to diffuse or nodular fibrosis of the lung. The histologic character of the cancers (squamous cell cancer instead of adeno carcinoma seen in the spontaneous cancer >f the lung of mice) and the histogenetie derivation oi :he tumors (bronchial mucosa instead of alveolar epithelium of the spontaneous type) indicate that a specific factor of 1. Waller* H, \\\j Aslieatosc aft Lunccakveb*. Deutsche mL Wchft* ehr. 575, 1944, 2. Extract from Annual Retwt of the Chief Inspector of Factories for the Venr 1947: Medical Section, Loudon, His Majesty4* Stationery Office. 1947, pji, 15*17- j. .Nordmann, M.. and Sor&e, A.: Lungenkrebs durefa Asbes Tiervrrsuch* Zttdir, f. Krebsforsch, ftliloS, 1941, | BB 0007.000 J exogenous origin, represented by the inhaled asbestos dust, was responsible for the bronchial cancers observed. Since some 20,000 workers are employed in the asbes tos-producing industries of ihi- country and Canada and many additional thousand? in various asbestosconsuming industries, increased attention to this prolsable occupational hazard of cancer of the lung by the medical profession is desirable. Cytologic examinations of the bronchial secretion may well l>e included in the periodic examination of workers exposed to asbestos dust whenever clinical or roentgenologic evidence indi cates the possible existence of a pulmonary cancer. As the available evidence shows that the occurrence of cancer of the lung is related to pulmonary asbestosis and is not merely a possible sequela of exposure to asbestos dust, in all fatal cases of asl>estosis there should be postmortem examination with detailed histo logic analysis. The anatomic lesions produced by asbestos dust in the lungs make difficult at times dis tinction by clinical and roentgenologic diagnostic methods between changes of pneumoconioiic nature and those that might indicate a cancerous growth. Current Comment NODULAR PANNICULITIS--WEBERCHR1STIAN DISEASE Weber-Christian's disease, or nonsuppurative nod ular ]tanniculitis. is characterized by recurring episodes of fever and the development of numerous painful and slightly tender subcutaneous nodules. In only 3 of 33 recorded cases was death apparently due to the disease. In the case reported by Kritzler.1 in which necropsy was done, the nodular lesions were limited to the subcutaneous fat. However, fat emlmli were found in the lungs and there was widespread acute necrosis oi the liver and spleen. In the case examined at necropsy by Spain and Foley.* necrotic areas were found not only in the sultcutaneous fat but in tji'e mesenteric, omental and pretracheal fat. Fat em! >!i were not found in the lungs, n>>r were areas of necr -is observed in the liver or spleen. However, foci o: iat necrosis were present in the region of the pancreas. A third case investigated at necropsy was that of Mostofi and Englcnian.3 in which nonsuppurative jianniculitis involved the skin, the epicardium and the peripancreatic. periadrenal. perirenal and mesenteric tissues. The nodules in the fat are of variable appearance. The earliest lesions consist of small accumulations of fat-laden macrophages. Later, there are some what larger lesions that present small areas of central necrosis in the immediate vicinity of which are lympho cytes, polynuclear leukocytes and fat-laden macro phages. Jn still older nodule-, the necrotic material is decreased or ah-ent and the >e-i"'is are partially or completely replaced by fibr.ti-sue. In Spain and t. Xoi/l.H, At- \\.' I'llh. X... . i .: X,,,,: ll M , ! |- . . | j. ivii, sic ; ;..'t .! Min. 1.1 K . ,V ' ]... . ...... . IV,.. X,,, v.;, \ . ...... . ..;u, I-..-lit.-. Alll. t: I ,* K -N.il- Folev's patient, who was an alcohol addict, there were changes indicating a late stage of chronic glomerulo nephritis. and death occurred with the symptoms of uremia. Such changes in the kidney are perhaps best interpreted as accidental necropsy findings without direct relationship to the syndrome under discussion. A disease in rabbits ajiparently analogous to that of nonsuppurative panniculitis in man has been described by Duran-Reynals * and others. The cause of Weber- Christian's disease is unknown. --------- ___ J_BB 000700! I CRISIS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Further evidence that the medical profession must coordinate and intensify its protection of the right to carry on experimental studies on animals in lalioratories is provided in a rejjort on this type of legislation in the District of Columbia. Representatives from twenty-six national health and science groups, local hospitals, lay groups and governmental agencies have united liehind Senate bill 1703, providing for lal>oratorv use of the 7.000 to 10,000 unclaimed dogs nowdestroyed each year in the District pound. The usual frenzied distortion and political pressure by antivirisectionists have placed the bill in jeopardy, according to the National Society for Medical Research. The society quotes Dr. A. C. Ivy, its secretary-treasurer, to the effect that members of the special Senate com mittee to which the bill was referred are personally in favor of it but the bill probably will not be reported out. Dr. Ivy has issued an apjieal that interested per sons write letters of endorsement to Senator J. Howard McGrath. of Rhode Island, who introduced the mea sure. and Senator Margaret Chase Smith, of Maine, chairman of the subcommittee. Some such concerted action is necessary at state as well as national levels to bear back etiorts of a small, misguided group to obstruct the advancement of science. FIRST TELEVISION NETWORK HEALTH SHOW The first health education program ever presented on a television network was viewed and heard from the NBC-TY studios in Radio City, New York, June 10. Transmitted as far west as Chicago, the program, titled '`Your Good Health and the Mighty Atom," was arranged through the Bureau of Health Education of the American Medical Association and produced under the supervision of Mrs. Harriet Hester, radio coordinator for the Bureau. The pro gram dealt with the use of radioisotojies in medicine, particularly radioactive iodine. Dr. Paul C. Aebcrsold, Chief. Radio-isotopes Division. United States Atomic KncVgy Commission. Oak Kidge. Tcnn.. was inter viewed by an NBC announcer oil the principles of radioactivity. With a Geiger counter specially ampli fied. Dr. Aebcrsold demonstrated first how radioactivity can be traced and atoms identified. Later, with a jiatient furnished by Dr. Sidney C. W erner. Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons andAWslniter^piUYspiyd. he demonstrated concentration i\f)'r)uliilacTO:if'iUline in the thyroid.4 - 4, *l)r.r:m-K' u il*. 1\: A 1Nm'm * mnt *K.tM'.t?'u_