The following films in the Magic of the Atom Series were produced by the Handel Film Corporation. They are each 12½ minutes long, have sound, and are in black and white.
The Atom and the Doctor(1954) shows three applications of radioisotopes in medicine: testing for leukemia and other blood disorders with radioiron; diagnosis of thyroid conditions with radioiodine; and cancer research and therapy with radiogallium.The Atom in the Hospital(1961) (available in color and black and white) illustrates the following facilities at the City of Hope Medical Center in Los Angeles: the stationary cobalt source that is used to treat various forms of malignancies; a rotational therapy unit called the “cesium ring”, which revolves around the patient and focuses its beam on the diseased area; and the total-body irradiation chamber for studying the effects of radiation on living things. Research with these facilities is explained.Atomic Biology for Medicine(1956) explains experiments performed to discover effects of radiation on mammals.Atoms for Health(1956) outlines two methods of diagnosis and treatment possible with radiation: a diagnostic test of the liver, and cancer therapy with a radioactive cobalt device. Case histories are presented step-by-step.Radiation: Silent Servant of Mankind(1956) depicts four uses of controlled radiation that can benefit mankind: bombardment of plants from a radioactive cobalt source to induce genetic changes for study and crop improvement; irradiation of deep-seated tumors with a beam from a particle accelerator; therapy of thyroid cancer with radioactive iodine; and possibilities for treating brain tumors.
The Atom and the Doctor(1954) shows three applications of radioisotopes in medicine: testing for leukemia and other blood disorders with radioiron; diagnosis of thyroid conditions with radioiodine; and cancer research and therapy with radiogallium.
The Atom in the Hospital(1961) (available in color and black and white) illustrates the following facilities at the City of Hope Medical Center in Los Angeles: the stationary cobalt source that is used to treat various forms of malignancies; a rotational therapy unit called the “cesium ring”, which revolves around the patient and focuses its beam on the diseased area; and the total-body irradiation chamber for studying the effects of radiation on living things. Research with these facilities is explained.
Atomic Biology for Medicine(1956) explains experiments performed to discover effects of radiation on mammals.
Atoms for Health(1956) outlines two methods of diagnosis and treatment possible with radiation: a diagnostic test of the liver, and cancer therapy with a radioactive cobalt device. Case histories are presented step-by-step.
Radiation: Silent Servant of Mankind(1956) depicts four uses of controlled radiation that can benefit mankind: bombardment of plants from a radioactive cobalt source to induce genetic changes for study and crop improvement; irradiation of deep-seated tumors with a beam from a particle accelerator; therapy of thyroid cancer with radioactive iodine; and possibilities for treating brain tumors.
Cover Courtesy Brookhaven National Laboratory
This booklet is one of the “Understanding the Atom” Series. Comments are invited on this booklet and others in the series; please send them to the Division of Technical Information, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D. C. 20545.
Published as part of the AEC’s educational assistance program, the series includes these titles:
A single copy of any one booklet, or of no more than three different booklets, may be obtained free by writing to:
USAEC, P. O. BOX 62, OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE37830
Complete sets of the series are available to school and public librarians, and to teachers who can make them available for reference or for use by groups. Requests should be made on school or library letterheads and indicate the proposed use.
Students and teachers who need other material on specific aspects of nuclear science, or references to other reading material, may also write to the Oak Ridge address. Requests should state the topic of interest exactly, and the use intended.
In all requests, include “Zip Code” in return address.
Printed in the United States of AmericaUSAEC Division of Technical Information Extension, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
[1]The early dangers from use of X rays, due to incomplete understanding and inadequate shielding, have now been eliminated.[2]Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation.[3]Alpha particles are large positively charged particles, identical to helium nuclei. For definitions of unfamiliar words seeNuclear Terms, A Brief Glossary, a companion booklet in this series.[4]For detailed descriptions of these waves and particles, seeOur Atomic World, a companion booklet in this series.[5]An equivalent statement is that nuclei of isotopes have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.[6]SeeAppendixfor a description of types of radiation-detection instruments.[7]SeeRadioisotopes and Life Processes, another booklet in this series, for a discussion of one area of biomedical research.[8]A positron is an “antielectron”. It has the mass of an electron but a positive charge.[9]A collimator is a focusing device consisting of a series of slits between blocks of shielding material. Consult theAppendixfor descriptions of other instruments mentioned here.[10]The superscript m after this isotope indicates an excited state of the atom.[11]As radioactive nuclei disintegrate, they change to other radioactive forms—their “daughter” products. Every radioisotope is thus part of a chain or series of steps that ends with a stable form. Technetium-99mis a daughter product of molybdenum-99; it decays by a process known as isomeric transition to a state of lower energy and longer half-life.[12]The curie is the basic unit of radiation intensity. One curie is approximately the amount of radioactivity in 1 gram of radium.[13]See Your Body and Radiation and The Genetic Effects of Radiation, other booklets in this series, for detailed explanations of radiation effects.[14]The use of radium is not under AEC control.[15]One family of measuring instruments is described inWhole Body Counters,another booklet in this series. These are large devices that make use of scintillating crystals or liquids.
[1]The early dangers from use of X rays, due to incomplete understanding and inadequate shielding, have now been eliminated.
[2]Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation.
[3]Alpha particles are large positively charged particles, identical to helium nuclei. For definitions of unfamiliar words seeNuclear Terms, A Brief Glossary, a companion booklet in this series.
[4]For detailed descriptions of these waves and particles, seeOur Atomic World, a companion booklet in this series.
[5]An equivalent statement is that nuclei of isotopes have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
[6]SeeAppendixfor a description of types of radiation-detection instruments.
[7]SeeRadioisotopes and Life Processes, another booklet in this series, for a discussion of one area of biomedical research.
[8]A positron is an “antielectron”. It has the mass of an electron but a positive charge.
[9]A collimator is a focusing device consisting of a series of slits between blocks of shielding material. Consult theAppendixfor descriptions of other instruments mentioned here.
[10]The superscript m after this isotope indicates an excited state of the atom.
[11]As radioactive nuclei disintegrate, they change to other radioactive forms—their “daughter” products. Every radioisotope is thus part of a chain or series of steps that ends with a stable form. Technetium-99mis a daughter product of molybdenum-99; it decays by a process known as isomeric transition to a state of lower energy and longer half-life.
[12]The curie is the basic unit of radiation intensity. One curie is approximately the amount of radioactivity in 1 gram of radium.
[13]See Your Body and Radiation and The Genetic Effects of Radiation, other booklets in this series, for detailed explanations of radiation effects.
[14]The use of radium is not under AEC control.
[15]One family of measuring instruments is described inWhole Body Counters,another booklet in this series. These are large devices that make use of scintillating crystals or liquids.