The Skin Reactions Produced by Alternations of Heat and X-ray at Various Time Intervals

Areas on the abdomen of the same guinea pig were exposed to suberythemal doses of soft X-rays, to heat of an intensity below the critical dose for the production of burns, and to both radiations in sequence with various time intervals between the exposures. The only effect of exposure to X-ray or heat alone was a slight scaling of the skin. The areas exposed to heat and X-radiation developed well-marked and persistent burns when the exposure to one agent was made within 3 hours of the other. Scaling of the skin developed when the exposure to one agent was made 1 day after the other. This scaling was more marked and lasted longer than the scaling produced by either agent alone. The results were the same no matter in which sequence the agents were applied.