The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-04
Radiufn.

Radiutr.
To Professor PIERRE and Nine. Curle 10
due the credit for the discovery OF radium,
n radio active metal which presents unu.
sual interests to the physicist, chemist ana
electrotherapeuetist, its peculiar property
being that light Is given of the moment
1t is created without having to be stimu.
lated by any form OF heat, light cleo
trlcity or any other form Of energy 50 far
as Is at present known. Radium bromlds
is the strongest salt yet produced. the
total amount iii existence being -FOUR
grams, it cost 5000 per gram.
The radations OF radium have the
property to penetrate OPAQUE solids as
does the "X-rays.' There are three types
OF rays eliminating from radium. the
"a" "B" and "R."
..The ~" rays constitute the major
portion, are readily absorbed and thin
screen Of metal sufflces to cut OF the
most of them.
"B" rays are much longer have greater
penetrattve power, are readily deflected
by magnet and correspond In every
particular to the cathode rays. These rays
are projected from the cathode at
rate Of speed approxinattlhg 10000 miles
per second. They we're proven BY willard
in 1899 to be negatively electrified
corpuscles, or fragments of atomic hydro
sen.
The "R" rays possess the greatest pen
erative power and excite or produce
radio activity at distance OF three feet
or more Professor Beeduerel states that
radum rays have the same power as tho
electric spark under exposure to heat, OF
restoring pfiosphorescent properties to
body deprived Of them by overhead ting.
Diamonds exposed to radlum rays in the
dark fluoresce and scintillate Ia the most
brilliant fashion. False stones are there
| fore easily detected. The phenomena OF
the constant omission OF heat Is unique
and unprecedented. and a given specimen
emts sufficient heat in an hour to melt
It's own weight In Ice. While It maintains
itself at a temperature OF To degrees G.
| above that OF surrounding media, this
emission of heat goes on without percep-
| tible variation Whether on summer day
or at the temperature OF liquid air. This
tremendous evolution OF radiant energy
goes on perpetually without combustion
or chemical change of any kind without
alteration OF molecular structure OF the
radum salt. and Without appreclable loss
OF weight. For one square inch OF surface
this loss of weight In ten million years Is
estimated at but ono gram. All OF these
facts are an apparent violation OF the
law OF conservation OF energy. Profess OF
Cookies, Labord and Curie adduce an har.
monlzng hypothesis. howeyF, they d:
card atomic theory and tell us that eact
atom Is composed OF infinitely smaller. but
absolutely Identical units, each In con
slant motion In It's intra-atomical orbit
Thus Hydrogen atoms consist OF sever
hundred Gons). oxygen 1920 uons). Th,
10000 Qons). which constitute radiuu
atom are in such violent state Of vibra
ton or revolution In their orbits tina
they are constantly flying apart and es
: Gaping from Inc atom into the ether. sim
!llarly as meteors leave the solar system,
] This active dissoclation OF the intra
atomic units Is termed radlo'actvty. Pro
fessor Lodge regards this atomical dis
: migration as the normal process O
: nature, but proceeding at so slow a rat
e OF the more stable atoms that million
y upon millions OF centuries would be con
g sumed In Its completion. while In radiur
! the process is so rapid 1t can be OF
9 served In substances which have been l
contact with radium. become radioactive
: and their radioactlvlty lasts for yaryin
periods OF time. Professor Curie state
: that 1t is impossible for him to go nea
. his instruments to make any measure
ments for hours, after being near radiun
and those who work with It. find 1t e1
!. tremely difficult to keep their tools. II
: struments and themselves free from III
radIoactivity Impaired by the ratiIun
Falling rain and snow are for a. tin
\ quite powerfully radioactive. and High
/, ming rods and even tho leaves OF tree
/. become radioactive. Hammer found
piece of cardboard, which had formed I'll
.r box holding his radium. luminous In II
s. dark after six days.
IN A small glass tube containing
$. decgram ct radium bromide shines III
Of glow worms when In the dark.
"a
IN statement that he would not care 10 tru
I'd himself In a room with kilo Of pure RI
of dun. as 1t would burn all tho SIX
re from his body. destroy his eyeslsht a,
RS probably kill him. From Its physical pro
r. erties and physiological effect, a ther
peutio action Is predieated. AS yet the
as has been but little done.
" -=-==----5 :
lie Railroad Wrecks.