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R a d i u m 271
animals a diminution of the number of circulating lymphocytes and a
destruction of lymphoid tissue following exposure to roentgen-rays. this
phenomenon has been investigated by many, especially Mottram and
Murphy. The results show clearly that while relatively large doses of
irradiation cause a marked decrease in the number of circulating
lymphocytes, distinctly small doses act as a stimulus to the lymphogenic
organs and cause a lymphocytosis. The degree of lymphopenia is not
necessarily proportional to the degree of leukopenia. Quite comparable
lo the effect of small doses of roentgen-ray or radium irradiation is the
effect of the similiar light rays from the sun, as it has been shown by
Aschenhcim. Clark, and others, that there occurs a relative and actual
increase in the number of circulating lymphocytes after exposure lo direct
sunlight."
"The percentage of jiolymorphonuclear neutrophiles varies in inverse
proportion to the percentage of lymphocytes at all times following irradiation.
The absolute numbers of polymorphonuclears are increased.
except with leukopenia, when they may l>ecome reduced to 50 per cent
of their original number, however, their percentage still remains high."
"Coincident with the drop in the lymphocytes, the polymorphonuclear
eosinophils undergo a decrease. None may be observed when leukopenia
develops. Later they increase over a period of days to weeks, reaching
often above normal and sometimes as high as 15 per cent, then returning
to normal m a similar period ot time. Vubertin and Beaujard found in
animals on the fourth day following exposure an increase of eosinophils
that persisted for two to three weeks. Later observations on man by
Heim. Masieri, Schroeder. and Koenigsfeld, indicate that eosinophilia
is a late rather than an early manifestation of the effect of irradiation, the
primary rise occurring some weeks after exposure. Peterson and Saelhof
found eosinophilia (5 to 20 per cent.) developed for a number of days
following irradiation over the livers of dogs. I'hey did not observe such
an increase in eosinophiles after exposure of other organs."
"No constant changes in the character or number of polymorphonuclear
basophiles have been observed following irradiation."
"After irradiation little or no change in the numbers or character
of the large mononuclear cells has been discovered by most observers.
Wetterer, Band and Xcmnick are the only ones to report that many of
these cells appear in the blood stream after irradiation."
"Various observers (Aubertin and Beaujard and others) have noted
following irradiation of animals two types of histological changes in
the white cells of the peripheral blood; one to be interpreted as due to
destruction and premature death, and the other indicative of youth.
Leukocytes showing evidence of histolysis of the nucleus and cytoplasm
with abnormal granulations have been frequently recorded in animals
in the first week after exposure. During this period of time fragmented
white cells were observed often, and sometimes in abundance. These
changes occurred especially in the polymorphonuclear cells, hut "mononuclear
ce!ls"(Morris includes lymphocytes) also exhibited such alterations.
Coincident with the many degenerating cells there appeared in the blood
stream an increased numlter of immature ones. These consisted for the
most part of young polymorphonuclear neutrophiles although an occasional
myelocyte was observed. The occurrence of degenerating and
immature' cells in man after irradiation has been referred to but little."
"There are relatively few observations recorded on the effect of irradiation
on the blood platelets. Helber and Linser and Duke found that