No physician refuses the benefit of his knowledge and skill, to those who, no matter how poor, are in need of his ministrations. In time of trouble, the doctor is the first to be called upon, but alas, often the last to be paid; probably thirty to forty per cent. of the physicians yearly business is never collected. Small wonder then, that with his devotion to his patients and to his science and art, the physician so often finds himself financially stranded, at the end of his professional career.
With this knowledge in mind and to alleviate if possible, the hardships of so many of their brothers, a group of New York physicians determined to establish a comfortable home, in which the unfortunate, old, worn-out doctor might end his days free from want and all care and worry. At Canada, New York, one of their number generously gave a farm of some 180 acres, together with a roomy house and the usual barns and buildings.
Improvements were made, with money donated by generous lay and professional friends and thanks to these friends and to some 700 subscribing practising physicians who donated ten dollars a year, this splendid philanthropy continues to minister to the wants of the needy. The Home is managed by a board of directors, non- sectarian in character, of which board, Dr. Robert T. Morris, well known surgeon of New York city, is president.
An improved method of treating neoplasms of the bladder by means of Removable Platinum Radon Seeds is described in this article.
Using the Removable Platinum Radon Seed, it is possible to obtain scientific accuracy of the dosage delivered. Radiation is directed not only to the growth itself, but to the tissue surrounding it, in order to catch the mitotic cell. The placement of the radioactive units is made so that the “zones of potential tissue change” from each source do not overlap. The “zone of potential tissue change,” or the amount of tissue that one seed can take care of when implanted alone and also when two or three centres are used so that intervening cells are subjected to cross firing, is described. The theoretical expose has been proved by clinical results.
Using the Removable Platinum Radon Seed, not only are we able to deliver accurate dosage, but because of the platinum screenage all caustic rays are eliminated and necrosis and sloughing with intense shock to the patient obviated. The fact that Platinum Radon Seeds are easily removed through the cystoscope after the required amount of radiation has been delivered makes this the method of choice since no foreign body is left in tissue after treatment.
The technic of application is fully described and illustrated. A point of great importance in using the Removable Platinum Radon Seeds is that after the first seed has been implanted through the cystoscope, its threat protruding from the portal of entry of the seed in tissue serves as a landmark and guide for the placement of successive seeds, so that the accuracy of placement of seeds through the cystoscope is greatly increased. Also, should a seed be incorrectly implanted, it may be removed and reimplanted.
In view of the highly simplified technic as described, the treatment of vesical neoplasms by implantation of Removable Platinum Radon Seeds can be accomplished with as much scientific accuracy as any other urologic procedure.
Irradiation of Vesical Neoplasms by Removable Platinum Radon Seeds: Description of New Instruments Designed to Facilitate Their Employment. Joseph Muir. Jour. Urology, January, 1927.
American Homeopathy Doctor.
Rabe graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical College and trained under Timothy Field Allen and William Tod Helmuth.
Rabe was President of the International Hahnemannian Association, editor in chief of the Homeopathic Recorder, and he wrote Medical Therapeutics for daily reference. Rabe was Dean and Professor of Homeopathic Therapeutics at the New York Homeopathic Medical College.