Letters Sent, April 27, 1928

CHARLES FREDERICK BAKER, M. D. 198 Clinton Avenue, Newark, N.J. . April 27th, 1928. Messrs. Collins & Corbin, 1 Exchange Place, Jersey City, N. J. Gentlemen: On April 24th, 1928, at 4.pm. I visited the Orthopedic Hospital in Orenge with Dr. Reotor and examined the xray films of the following individuals supposed to be suffering from radium poisoning as a result of pointing brushes on the tongue, said brushes being used in applying radioactive substances on watch dials. Previous to examining these films I had had ex- perience with one case (Miss Eckert who later worked for L. Bam- berger Co. ) but who it wes found worked in the same way pointing the brushes on her tongue. I was therefore prepared for the de- tection of the bone changes shown to have existed in these five gases. In as much as these are among the earliest discovered who have suffered from this affliction and no great number of cases are at hand for comparative study, it is not easy without the history of radium poisoning, to state definitely what the bone changes are due to excepting that the bone changes do not conform exactly to those found in any other known disease. In these lesions we find irregular increase in bone density going hand in hand with erosion in other portions of the same or other bones and a collapse of some of the bones subjected to pressure viz: the vertebrae. The hips which are subjected to pressure by weight bearing show more or less erosion of the articular surfaces of the femurs while at the same time we find irregular white lines in the adjacent portions of the femur and ischium (a part of the large pelvie bone). It is reason- able to think that radiumwhichhas become permanently fixed in the endothelial structures of the bone first produced a mila (but constant) stimulation which resulted in striations of new bone of greater density than the normal, and that es time goes on and the radiation is forever acting the bone undergoes atrophy with ultimate collapse most notable in those locations on which pressure is born. LST CASE STUDIED: CATHERINE STRAUB. Showed partial destruction of the articular surface of the remur in the right hip joint, the cartilage space being normal. Below the articular surface above mentioned the bone showed inoreased den- sity. There were a few soattered shadows of increased density in the left ischial tuberosity and the left femur, the latter occurring in upper shaft and neck. The left ankle films showed