I don't think that they were still doing that treatment as late as 1964 (but it may have lingered as some doctors probably didn't get the message). In was mainly in the early to late 50's that they were using the radium sticks. Many that had the procedure have had severe health conequences. Johns Hopkins was a key player and innovator of this therapy which puts light on some of the darker side of cancer research and their otherwise stellar history (and they have allegedly attempted to cover it up).

This was a very interesting subject to me as the local hospital (Mills in San Mateo Ca) where I was treated also employed the procedure for a number of years. It may have been done on me and they will not produce the records or return my calls. Like linroth my pediatrician died years ago.

More info about this most disturbing experiment under the guise of a "standard of medical care":

Hopkins experiments on children:

See: http://baltimorechronicle.com/rupnose.html

http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=4962

experiments on Veterans:

http://www.aracnet.com/~pdxavets/radium.htm

NIH info:

http://rex.nci.nih.gov/massmedia/backgrounders/naso.htm

CDC info:

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/nri/patientinfo.htm