PAPERS OX MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 473 



A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF EADIUM AXD 



X-RAY TREATMENT OF MYELOGENOUS 



LEUKEMIA * 



Glex Wever, Illixois College, Jacksoxville 



Abstract — 



Myelogenous Leukemia is a rare, and to the extent of 

 present knowledge, incurable blood disease The case 

 here observed presents a number of distinctive features, 

 among which is the relatively small number of white 

 blood corpuscles when considered in comparison with 

 most cases of the disease. Three ray treatments, two 

 of Radium and one of X-Ray, gave results from which it 

 is difficult, as well as inadvisable, to draw definite con- 

 clusions. The progress of the disease during the period 

 of observation, November, 1919, to April, 1920, the vari- 

 ous effects of the ray treatments upon the elements of 

 the blood stream, and other features of interest and sig- 

 nificance are sho^\^^ by means of graphs and charts. 



The work with which this paper deals was the study of 

 a case of myelogenous leuJcemia by means of differential 

 blood counts. A brief clinical history of the case is taken 

 from the Sanatorium records. 



The patient was a man 59 years of age, engaged in 

 farming. He sought medical attention on November 27, 

 1919, at which time he reported the previous duration 

 of the disease to be 18 months. He complained of gen- 

 eral weakness, loss of weight, aches in the limbs, head- 

 ache, flashes before the eyes, feeling of distress, and 

 fullness in the epigastrium. Examination disclosed sub- 

 normal nutrition, flaccidity of the muscles, and marked 

 increase in the size of the spleen. The hemoglobin test 

 gave a result of 75%. The case was diagnosed as myelo- 

 genous leukemia. 



The period observed is from November, 1919, until 

 April, 1920. During that time three Ray treatments were 

 given. The first, about December 6, consisted of 5,000 

 milligram hours of Radium treatment. On December 5, 



• The author wishes to express his indebtedness to Dr. F. G. Norbury, 

 of Jacksonville, for providing the opportunity and the directions that made 

 this work possible. 



