The Integral Dose received from a uniformly distributed Radioactive Isotope

Methods of calculation of the integral dose received in simple geometrical bodies containing a uniformly distributed γ-ray emitting radioactive isotope are described, and a general relation between this dose and the volume, and the elongation of the body, deduced. These calculations have been extended to the case of a “patient”, composed of cylinders and elliptical cylinders. A table is given, showing the integral dosage-rates in patients of different heights and weights from a uniformly distributed γ-ray emitter. The effect of variation in the quantum energy of the emitted radiation on the integral dose is examined. An expression is found which gives the fraction of the energy due to βparticle emission which is lost from the surface of the patient or animal. This loss may be important in the case of small animals.