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154
R a d i u m
"Without consideration of the surgical mortality in the most skilled
clinics, we must consider this great danger in other centers; also the
fear, apprehension, hospitalization and financial cost to the individual,
not forgetting the possible return of all symptoms."
"Leniency must be used in the criticism of scientific men who. ignoring
radium entirely, assert that all treatments have failed except
surgery. It must be remembered that prejudice and inexperience will
warp the soul of the most sublime."
"Radium therapy for toxic goiter as standardized and given to
this Society by the author two years ago, at the Boston meeting, merits
your serious interest. After seven years of experience with the element,
the last three under the most exacting scrutiny by means of laboratory
methods and clinical findings, I conclude that toxic goiter can
be cured by radium and that it is not a surgical disease."
"Of the 1S0 cases I have treated, only 10 were subjected to a second
radiation. Four of these had large cystic adenomata and the toxic activity
was not completely controlled after the firsttreatment. The other
6 were given the second treatment with the hope of further reducing
the enlarged gland. Three cases, in a state of extremus from myocardial
degeneration with general edema, died. One insane patient died from
starvation before the treatment had time to benefit the toxemia."
"Improvement is noted within the first ten days after treatment.
but about the third week all the old symptoms may return, due to the
radium reaction. This active stage varies in different individuals. Some
express disappointment in not feeling bad, while others are nauseated
for a few days."
"Within four weeks the nervous tremor has commenced to subside,
the appetite has improved and the heart has slowed down twenty
or thirty beats. After two months all the symptoms are much better
and most individuals gain a few pounds in weight. The improvement
is gradual, as shown by the cases reported when the metabolic rate has
been taken every three months after treatment."
"Some cases are free from all symptoms after six months, while
others with large adenomata of long standing and with extensive myocardial
change take twelve to eighteen months to show a normal metabolic
rate with a normal heart action."
"The enlarged gland gradually decreases in size in direct relation
to the amount of cystic formation present. All hypertrophy or hyperplasia
is reduced to normal while the cystic type is reduced about onehalf
in size. The exophthalmus in many of my cases has been controlled
after three years. However, all do not respond so favorably."
"There has been no evidence of myxedema in any of the cases
treated. Metabolic readings have been made over a period of two and
a half years and all have remained normal."
"Many toxic adenoma cases give a history of pregnancy, childbirth
or miscarriage initiating the toxic activity. In these young women they
run an active and rapid course, so that the symptoms are grave in a
very few months. Sixteen of these cases have been treated, and 10
haye had second and third pregnancies since treatment without any
evidence of thyroid toxemia. Two showed activity at the beginning of
lactation but were controlled by means of the ice bag."
"Two of our cases had two operations each and 8 had one each
for thyroidectomy. Four others had ligation of the thyroid arteries
on one side and 2 had both superior thyroid arteries tied off. They