Treatment of viral hepatitis with the Knott technic of blood irradiation.

T HE results of treatment of forty-three patients with vira1 hepatitis by the Knott technic of bIood irradiation therapy are presented. Thirty-one cases of acute infectious hepatitis are incIuded in this series; three cases were chronic and of Iong standing, and tweIve were cases of acute serum hepatitis. These patients received no therapy other than the Knott technic of bIood irradiation. The average foIIow-up period was 3.56 years. Twenty-two patients were foIlowed up for four to six years, seventeen for one to three years and four for two to six months. The foIIowing criteria, considered by Stauffer’ as essentia1 for positive diagnosis of vira1 hepatitis, were empIoyed: ThymoI turbidity (within two weeks of onset of jaundice), above 10 units; cephaIin fI occuIation (within two weeks of onset of jaundice), 4 pIus; urinary urobiIinogen, over I :40 diIution; serum biIirubin, above 1.2 mg. per cent.