To the Editor:—
One treatment of cancer of the cervix is insertion of radium. Unfortunately, this produces almost always a more or less severe cystitis and proctitis which is most distressing to the patient and can cause prolonged disability.
The conventional method of "protecting" the bladder and cervix by insertion of tampons is apparently ineffective to a large degree due to the proximity of these structures to the vagina and cervix uteri.
I have long thought it might be possible to produce a better shield for bladder and rectum, and since lead is the outstanding shield metal against radiation, it has occurred to me to use leaded glass-fibers which can be spun into soft pliable cloth and used for vaginal tampons, among other uses.
In this connection I wrote to the Corning Glass Works and received a reply assuring me that glass fibers can be made of high-lead glasses which
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