INFLUENCE OF ROENTGEN RAYS UPON METABOLISM 883 



body attributable to emanation) would lead one to expect, if any change at 

 all, rather an increased concentration of uric acid in the blood than a de- 

 crease, much less complete disappearance as Gudzent would have us 

 believe. 



Investigations by Fine and Chace with inhalation of radium emana- 

 tion (containing as high as one hundred Mache units per liter) over 

 long periods, radium emanation in drinking water, and injection of fifty 

 micrograms of soluble radium bromid in no case had any influence what- 

 ever upon the concentration of uric acid in the blood. Likewise they could 

 observe no increase in the excretion of uric acid in the urine. 



Very few observations have been made on the effect of radiation on 

 the basal metabolism in normal animals and human beings. Silbergleit(&) 

 studied the influence of baths containing radium emanation on the gaseous 

 exchange of normal men, but his results were negative. Kikkoji found a 

 distinct increase in the basal metabolism of normal men who received 

 during the experimental period three doses of 330 Mache units per os. 

 The respiratory quotient was also sometimes increased. Bernstein de- 

 termined the basal metabolism of several persons before and after a two- 

 hour interval in an emanatorium containing from 220 to 440 Mache units 

 per liter of air. One of these was carried out on a normal individual 

 and showed an increase of about six per cent. A slight increase of the 

 respiratory quotient was likewise noted. The respiratory quotient re- 

 mained practically unaffected according to Benczur and Fuchs(a) with in- 

 gestion of radium emanation water containing 300,000 to 400,000 Mache 

 units. With radium alkaline waters Staehelin and Maase found the gas- 

 eous exchange considerably decreased. This decrease refers only to values 

 following the taking of food and not to fasting values. 



The carbohydrate metabolism is apparently increased according to 

 the observations of Kikkoji and Bernstein who found in their basal metab- 

 olism studies an increase in the respiratory quotient in most cases. 

 Lipine(c) found that exposure of dogs to x-rays for one hour is followed 

 by an increased glucolysis which is more marked if impacted with eosin 

 before radiation. 



That radioactive substances and x-rays have an effect upon normal 

 metabolism is well established by the results of investigations reported 

 above. According to Musser and Edsall the effect of x-rays upon metab- 

 olism is unqualled by any other therapeutic agent and we might apply 

 that statement equally to radium. The changes produced by these agents 

 is manifested by an excessive elimination of the products of protein de- 

 struction indicated by the increased elimination of total nitrogen, uric 

 acid, purin bases and phosphates, and the accumulation in some cases 

 of non-protein nitrogen in the blood. That these agents have an effect upon 

 carbohydrate metabolism and fat metabolism is not so well established 

 by the meager results so far reported. 



