INFLUENCE OF ROENTGEN RAYS UPON METABOLISM 887 



the products of metabolism. The cases without an immediate increase 

 in the nitrogen excretion were unfavorably influenced by x-ray applica- 

 tion. It seems to the authors that the organism in these two cases was 

 overwhelmed by the enormous amount of the products of tissue destruc- 

 tion, resulting in a retention of decomposed tissue products. After a time 

 the organism reacted somewhat and a complete disintegration couki 

 be accomplished and the products were excreted. 



Ordway, Tait and Knudson have studied the influence upon metabolism 

 of surface application of radium emanation upon a case of sarcoma and of 

 carcinoma respectively. In the former they observed increases in the vol- 

 ume of urine, in total acidity, ammonia, total nitrogen, urea, and uric acid. 

 Great inin and phosphates were considerably increased. In the case with 

 carcinoma there was no increase of the nitrogenous fractions or phosphates 

 of the urine. The changes in the nitrogen metabolism depend apparently 

 upon the amount and nature of tissue autolysis. In the case of sarcoma 

 there was a definite softening and fluctuation of the growth while in the 

 case of carcinoma of the breast the lesion consisted of hard brawny 

 fibrous tissue in which one would expect little or no autolysis. 



Ludin has observed that radium reduces the high cholesterol values 

 observed in the blood of carcinoma patients and emphasizes the fact that 

 this may play an important part in the beneficial effect of radium therapy. 

 De Niord, Schreiner, and De Niofd have studied the influence of Roent- 

 gen rays on the blood of cancer patients in order to note whether radia- 

 tion produces any appreciable change in their blood chemistry. Blood 

 specimens were taken before exposure to x-rays, one half hour and 

 twenty-four after exposure. Radiation had no effect upon the sodium 

 chiorid content nor upon the percentage of corpuscles and plasma. The 

 changes in the urea nitrogen, creatinin, uric acid, sugar and diastatic 

 activity are inconsistent, which makes it difficult to draw any conclusions. 

 In a number of the cases these constituents were found to be increased 

 and in an equal number they were found to be decreased or to have no 

 effect.- The cholesterol, fatty acids and total fats were found to be 

 generally increased in the cases of malignancy. After exposure to x-rays 

 the total fatty acids were found to be reduced in 72 per cent of the cases 

 and the total fat was reduced in 83 per cent. The cholesterol content 

 in 61 per cent of the cases was higher and in 31 per cent was lower after 

 exposure. The increase in cholesterol was not proportional to the time 

 of exposure or the type of tumor. 



Rudinger studied the influence of Roentgen rays on protein metabolism 

 in Basedow's disease. He found exposure to the rays induced a retention 

 of nitrogen as indicated by a gradual fall of elimination. No relation 

 could be found between the phosphorus and nitrogen metabolism. 



Constitutional Effects. The local inflammatory reactions produced 

 by x-rays and radioactive substances in those engaged in such work are 



