Chapter 1 

 RADIATION EFFECTS OX CELLS 

 By ELLICE McDonald, M.D., Director 



In these days of the atomic ])omb and the possibiHty of atomic energy 

 being applied to industrial organization, the study of its forces seems very 

 pertinent. When atomic energy is applied industrially, one of the chief 

 cares will be the protection of workers against its forces and of these the 

 chief energy will be the neutron. 



It is for this reason that we have adapted our research to this study. 

 The present research is only a beginning, to mark the way for the future. 

 Our concern is not only to prevent the impact of radiation by screening 

 with walls and water to keep the neutrons from, reaching the operator, 

 but also to determine the mechanism of its action: for only with this knowl- 

 edge can remedial and curative measures be applied after the patient has 

 absorbed the neutrons. 



Radiation effects have interested the Biochemical Research Foundation 

 for 15 years. At first it was study in regard to X-rays and ultraviolet 

 light effects, but for the past eight years it has been the study of forces and 

 material produced by the cyclotron. Of all the cyclotrons, that of the 

 Biochemical Research Foundation is the only one specially built for bio- 

 chemical and biological study. 



The Manhattan District requested us to undertake a study of neutron 

 effects upon the white blood cell counts of animals in order to correlate it 

 ^^•ith a companion study of X-ray effects undertaken by them at another 

 place. While this upset the scheme of our research plans, we felt it was our 

 duty to accede, but did so with the proviso that those not occupied in their 

 project should have the opportunity of continuing research without limita- 

 tion, insofar as it did not interfere with the program requested by the Man- 

 hattan District. This program imposed certain restrictions upon our Avork, 

 the chief being, that it required the cyclotron to produce neutrons daily 

 at a given rate, and we, of necessity, were compelled to adjust our work 

 to that limitation. 



()ur cyclotron ran without missing a day for more than a year, a record 

 for continuous performance, we believe; anyone with any experience in 

 running a cyclotron with its aberrations and temperamentality will know 

 what effort and foresight that required. 



So our research on neutrons was geared to another plan and we adapted 

 our research to the other work we were doing for the ^lanhattan project. 



1 



