214 Applied Biophysics 



working with the author.^ There is no doubt that X-ray treat- 

 ment reduces the ascorbic acid content of the blood and of the 

 tissues in animals, and the ascorbic acid content of the blood 

 in patients. Table \' shows a diminution of the plasma ascorbic 

 acid during treatment in three breast cases and a case of medias- 

 tinal tumor. 



The technical arrangements for the breast cases are similar 

 in all three patients, and it is obvious, on a su])erficial examina- 

 tion of the figures, that there is a qualitative but not a quanti- 

 tative correlation with volume dose even in these few cases. 



It seems likely that the chemical changes which occur in the 

 body soon modify any substances which might be formed, so that 

 it might be impossible even to achieve l)iol()gical correlation, 

 although the most hopeful line of attack on the problem would 

 be to try to estimate breakdown products, such as adenosine, as 

 being the possible initial substances. Other effects seem likely 

 to be secondary, whether chemical, cytological or ])hysiological, 

 and as such will not offer any real correlation. 



Acknowledgment. — The illustrations are reproduced from the 

 British Journal oj Radiology by kind permission of the editor 

 and of the authors concerned. 



Rf.ferences 



1 Boag, J. W. (1945) Brit. J. Radiol. 18, 235. 



2 Bush, F. (1943) Brit. J. Radiol. 16, 109. 



3 Ellis, F. (1942) Brit. J. Radiol. 15, 174 and 194. 

 •* Ellis, F. (1945) Brit. J. Radiol. 18, 240. 



5 Ellis, F. and H. Aliller (1944) Brit. J. Radiol. 17, 90. 



6 Gray, L. H. (1944) Brit. .J. Radiol. 17, 327. 

 "^Grimmett, L. G. (1939) Amcr. J. Roentgenol. 41, 432. 

 SGrimmett, L. G. (1942) Brit. J. Radiol. 15, 144. 



9 Happey, F. (1940) Nature, Lond. 145, 668; 146, 96. 

 lOHappey, F. (1941) Brit. J. Radiol. 14, 235. 



11 Levitt, W. M. (1938) Brit. J. Radiol. 11, 183. 



12 Alayneord, W. V. (1940) Brit. J. Radiol. 13, 235. 

 i-^Mayneord. W. V. (1944) Brit. .J. Radiol. 17, 359. 

 i4Mayneord, W. V. (1945) Brit. J. Radiol. 18, 12. 



