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ANALYSIS OF SELECTIVE EFFECTS OF SHORT WAVE THERAPY

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C. J. BREITWIESER · 1935

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Early 1935 research examined how medical short wave therapy affects tissues differently, laying groundwork for electromagnetic field safety studies.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1935 study by Breitwieser analyzed the selective effects of short wave therapy, examining how electromagnetic fields used in medical diathermy treatments produce heat in body tissues. The research focused on understanding the different impacts of electric versus magnetic field components in therapeutic electromagnetic applications.

Why This Matters

This research represents one of the earliest scientific investigations into how electromagnetic fields interact with human tissue, predating our modern understanding of EMF health effects by decades. While conducted for therapeutic purposes, Breitwieser's analysis of 'selective effects' suggests recognition that electromagnetic fields don't affect all tissues uniformly - a principle that remains central to EMF safety research today. The study's focus on distinguishing between electric and magnetic field effects in short wave diathermy provides historical context for understanding how medical professionals first grappled with electromagnetic field interactions in the human body. What makes this particularly relevant is that short wave diathermy operates in similar frequency ranges to many modern wireless devices, though at much higher power levels for intentional heating effects.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagram extracted from the original research document.

chartPage 4 - Curves showing the selective effect from studies on pure electrolytes, curves decreasing directly with wavelength.
p. 4 of the original PDF

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

To analyze results of short and ultrashort wave therapy experiments and explain them on a physical basis, indicating why some experiments may have been successful and others unsuccessful.

The paper discusses the mechanism by which heat is produced by high frequency fields, specifically e...

The paper demonstrates that heat is generated in high frequency electric fields through dielectric h...

Short wave apparatus using the electric field heats by means of dielectric hysteresis. The intensity of heat produced depends upon field strength, frequency, dielectric constant and specific conductivity. There exists for each combination of wavelength and dielectric constant a particular resistance for which the heating will be a maximum. Practically all of the so-called specific electric effects can be explained by this preferential heating. Point heating is merely another form of heating and may be used to explain other selective effects on bacteria.

Cite This Study
C. J. BREITWIESER (1935). ANALYSIS OF SELECTIVE EFFECTS OF SHORT WAVE THERAPY.
Show BibTeX
@article{analysis_of_selective_effects_of_short_wave_therapy_g6848,
  author = {C. J. BREITWIESER},
  title = {ANALYSIS OF SELECTIVE EFFECTS OF SHORT WAVE THERAPY},
  year = {1935},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

Short wave diathermy was a medical treatment using electromagnetic fields to heat deep tissues for therapeutic purposes. The technique used radio frequency energy to generate controlled heat within the body for treating various conditions.
Breitwieser analyzed how short wave electromagnetic fields affected different body tissues and structures selectively, examining both electric and magnetic field components to understand their distinct biological interactions and heating patterns.
Short wave diathermy typically operated in the radio frequency range, commonly around 27 MHz. These frequencies were chosen for their ability to penetrate tissue and generate therapeutic heating effects in targeted areas.
Understanding selective effects was crucial for safe medical treatment, ensuring electromagnetic fields heated intended tissues while minimizing exposure to sensitive organs. This selectivity principle remains important in modern EMF safety research.
This early work established that electromagnetic fields interact differently with various body tissues, a fundamental principle underlying current EMF safety standards and research into wireless device health effects.