Abstract
Summary
Administration of thermal burn at times up to 96 hours before X-irradiation increases mortality in the time period characteristic of radiation injury to the gastrointestinal tract. The maximum effect was observed at 72 hours. Administration of the burn at times up to 96 hours after X-irradiation decreased mortality due to injury of the gastrointestinal tract relative to these receiving the simultaneous injuries but increased mortality in the bone marrow phase of the radiation syndrome. When the thermal burn was administered at 96 hours after X-irradiation there appeared to be an inhibition of recovery in the bone marrow as shown by the reduced cell counts in their peripheral blood. The possibility that the synergism between thermal burn and X-irradiation is due to a protraction of radiation induced inhibition of cell renewal systems is suggested.
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