To the Editor.
—William H. Crosby, MD, has brought to my attention a letter by Kenneth B. Olson, MD, of Albany Medical College, written in response to Dr. Crosby's review (Arch Intern Med123:472-473 [April] 1969) of The Blood in Disease by Charles A. Hall, MD. Since my name is mentioned in Dr. Olson's letter, I should like to take this opportunity to comment on some of the points which he raises, as well as on Dr. Hall's views about the curability of Hodgkin's disease.Dr. Olson claims that Extended field radiation therapy has introduced a great deal of morbidity into Hodgkin's disease therapy which may not be necessary. Cases of radiation carditis, pancytopenia, and transverse myelitis have been reported as a result of intensive therapy, and, indeed, there is evidence that there is a definite mortality probably related to infection due to leukopenia from intensive wide field megavoltage