Effect, reaction and dermatologic uses of the actinic ray / by Rex Duncan, M.D. and Calvin Witter, M.D.

  • Duncan, Rex.
Date:
[1900]?
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Effect, reaction and dermatologic uses of the actinic ray / by Rex Duncan, M.D. and Calvin Witter, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    RIA570 /^fP^V YALE UNIVERSITY OCT 3 1923 EFFECT, REACTION AND SOME DERMATOLCkkftPARY- USES OF THE ACTINIC RAY By REX DUNCAN, M. D. and CALVIN WITTER, M. D. Los Angeles, California From the Radium and Oncologic Institute The Actinic Ray manifests four important effects: (1) photo- chemical, (2) ionic, (3) fluorescent, and (4) biologic. The bio- logic is of most importance to the clinician as it has both a local activity and general systemic action. The local activity ranges from a slight capillary engorgement to an exudative inflammation ; therefore a desired therapeutic result must be determined in each case in order that the local reaction may be carried to that point where maximum benefit will result from treatment. Non-intensive doses applied for a short time yield a maximum of constructive cell activity. Intensive doses applied for a longer time produce stimulative changes in the deeper layers and superficial changes leading to cellular death. The indications for the estimate of the necessary dosage in any given condition are based on the cellular pathology of the part, therefore if the condition is one of a pyo- genic organism, then the first dose indicated is for the destruction of the organism and for the repair of the cellular damage that the organism may have excited, namely, a bactericidal effect with cellular stimulation to the point of tissue repair. As for systemic effect, the time and intensity depend upon the reaction sought, as the Actinic Ray produces changes in the quality of the blood, a leukopenia and subsequent leukocytosis. Certain results are due to physiologic chemical changes in the cells at the surface exposed to treatment, and the cellular changes reflect their activity into the venous outflow of blood after taking up the necessary biological element from the arterial supply. There are three types of reac- tion of therapeutic value to the clinician: (1) stimulative ery- thema, (2) regenerative erythema, and (3) destructive erythema. A stimulative erythema results from an exposure that produces a faint blush. It is accompanied by a minimum of cellular pro- toplasmic change and by a good share of capillary engorgement. It is bactericidal and useful for systemic treatment in the form of general bodily application. Regenerative erythema is a marked hyperemic reaction, carried to the point where it will produce a maximum redness just short of blistering. This possesses the char- acteristics of stimulation and bactericidal activity incident to the faint blush just discernable, and in addition gives a maximum capillary reaction so as to furnish also a regenerative capacity to —««.the area exposed. Moderate pigmentation follows the regenera- fo < mtr - ■.••. LJ u|BBi -