192 
Current  Literature. 
(Am,  Jour.  Pharm. 
\       April,  1914. 
tions  of  radium  salts.  It  can  be  collected  as  it  escapes  from  the 
solution,  drawn  off  through  the  use  of  the  mercury  pump,  or  by 
other  suitable  means,  quantitatively  determined  by  either  the  alpha 
or  gamma  ray  electroscope,  brought  into  solution  in  water  for  in- 
ternal or  external  use  or  be  set  free  in  an  emanatorium  for  inhalation 
treatment.  It  may  be  collected  into  small  glass  containers  and  this 
used  in  place  of  the  applicators  described  under  surgical  use. 
Actions  and  Uses:  Radium  emanation  is  said  to  increase  the 
excretion  of  uric  acid  in  the  urine  and  to  decrease  its  concentration 
in  the  blood ;  to  increase  somewhat  the  number  of  red  blood-cor- 
puscles ;  to  cause  temporary  leukocytosis  early  in  the  course  of 
treatment,  the  mononuclear  increase  being  relatively  greater ;  to  lead 
frequently  through  long-continued  use  to  leukopenia,  although  no 
appreciable  benefit  is  observed  in  leukemia.  It  is  said  that  radium 
increases  general  metabolism,  and  in  vitro  activates  certain  enzymes, 
pepsin,  pancreatin,  rennin,  autolytic  ferments,  tyrosinase  and  dias- 
tase. 
It  has  been  claimed  that  radium  emanation  is  of  value  in  all 
forms  of  non-suppurative,  acute,  subacute  and  chronic  arthritis 
(luetic  and  tuberculous  excepted),  in  chronic  muscle  and  joint  rheu- 
matism (so-called),  in  arthritis  deformans,  in  acute  and  chronic 
gout,  in  neuralgia,  sciatica,  lumbago,  and  in  tabes  dorsalis  for  the 
relief  of  lancinating  pains.    Its  chief  value  is  in  the  relief  of  pain. 
Surgical  Use:  The  efficiency  of  the  treatment  is  due  to  the  beta 
and  gamma  rays.  The  quantity  of  ray  is  proportional  to  the  amount 
of  radium  element  represented  in  the  salt  or  the  emanation.  Pure 
gamma  rays  may  be  employed  when  the  apparatus  is  surrounded  by 
at  least  3  mm.  of  lead.  Nearly  all  pathologic  tissues  are  more  sensi- 
tive than  normal  tissues.  There  is,  however,  a  wide  variation  in 
the  normal  tissues ;  e.g.,  the  ovary  and  the  sexual  organs  are  very 
sensitive,  the  eye  and  nervous  tissues  very  unsensitive.  In  skin  dis- 
eases marked  results  are  obtained  with  epitheliomata,  birthmarks 
and  scars. 
Technic:  Usually  heavy  doses  with  epitheliomata,  light  doses 
with  other  conditions.  New  growths,  benign  and  malignant,  of  the 
pelvic  organs,  the  breast,  the  neck  and  other  parts  of  the  body 
have  been  most  favorably  influenced  in  some  cases.  The  growths  of 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth  are  quite  resistant.  There  is  a 
remarkable  sedative  effect  in  true  neuralgia,  as  well  as  those  due  to 
tumor  pressure.  The  dosage  for  internal  work  is  heavy,  "  hundreds 
of  milligrams,"  and  always  with  the  pure  gamma  rays.   The  technic 
