An Important Document for the History of Turkish Radiation Oncology: "The Principles of Radium Treatment"

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the information in the book about the usage of radium for treatment purposes in the light of current scientific knowledge by abbreviating and translating it into modern-day Turkish. With this study, Turkish Medical History will acquire a new source document. First, the book that was the subject of this work, was reviewed by the researchers. After the first evaluation, it was re-read by an academician, who is an expert in Turkish Language and Literature, and it was abbreviated in order to make it more articulate. Finally, after this process, the obtained information was interpreted in the light of current scientific knowledge. The book, which was written by a Turkish physician, covers utilization areas of radium, mechanism of effect and comparison with x-ray treatment. Written in the Young Turkish Republic about "modern medicine" practices, the book is considerably detailed and shows parallels with other practices of that period in the world. In addition to the brief theoretical information about the atom and radium, the application methods of radium treatment are covered by the book. Summarized information about the benefits and the risks of the treatment and warnings related to the practice can also be found in the book. The common feature of the medical books about x-ray and radium written almost a century ago is that they cover the theoretical information or the story of the discovery of x-ray and radium. On the other hand, "Radyumla Tedavi Esaslari (The Principles of Radium Treatment)" was a unique pioneering work of its time covering the utilization methods of radium and x-ray, the advantages and disadvantages of these methods and the comparison of the two methods. It also discusses the administration methods of x-ray and radium, the pros and cons of these methods and the comparison of the two methods made it exclusive.