Possible Injury to Germ Cells by Roentgen Rays
A recent letter touched on the question of possible injury to germ cells by roentgen rays (The Journal, Nov. 21, 1931, p. 1552). On account of its great importance, this problem has occupied of late, in Germany, many persons engaged in that line of work. For that reason, the Berlin Gesellschaft für Geburtshilfe und Gynäkologie devoted recently a session to a discussion on temporary "castration" by roentgen rays, which was participated in by many prominent gynecologists, researchers on heredity and radiologic experts. The opening paper was presented by Privatdozent von Schubert, on the staff of the Frauenklinik der Charité, who called attention to the difficulties of the method. Temporary castration is unsuccessful in 5 per cent of the cases; onthe other hand, supposedly temporary castration will, in a like percentage of cases, prove permanent, which is a serious matter for young women