The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-15
HREEWIzARDSALTS.
Interesting Pocket-piece Carried by
Prof. Frankforter of the State
University.
Bottle of Powder Containing Salts of
Recently Discovered and Won
derful Metals.

fOrter, dean or the school OF chemistry
at the state university, contains tiny
bottle, and the bottle contains a white
powder with violet tinge. The powder
weighs about as much as one dried pea.
This spoonful of powder might be worth
$4,000, If such powder were for sale.
But there is only few ounces of 1t in
the world. A pound of the white dust has
recently been valued, theoretically, ut
81, 0OO,0OO
Because the powder is a salt of three
new metals--actinum, radium, polon-
ium--the most wonderful metals yet dis
covered one of them, perhaps, will prove
the philosophers stone, in search of which
the alchemists of the middle ages passed
their lives. 1t may revolutionize theories
of science as to the constitution of mat
ter; may demonstrate of what elements
all matter is composed; may render posi-
BILE the analysis of metals heretofore con-
sldered elementary; and may enable some
modern chemist to transform baser metals
into gold.
This powder, also, is an essence Of
the X-ray. Like the ray, the powder will
take photographs in the dark and thru
opaque substances.
The illustration herewith was made by
X-ray dust. Professor Frankforter
wrapped Photographic negative in four
folds of heavy black paper. Upon the top
of the paper he laid keys and a coin. Eight
inches above the coins he hung the vial
of burning metals. The whole was LETT
within a dark room at the university a
dark room that is closed with a double
door an that has no window, a room,
moreover, that is built within the center
OF another dark room. All sunlight was
excluded absolutely. But after ten hours
the glow from the pinch of powder had
drawn an outline Of the keys and coin.
This fruit of the new tree of knowledge
was first tested by scientific Eve, Madam
Curle Of Paris, and the only woman who
ever made a notable discovery in chem
istry. She is a Polish woman married
TO a Partisan chemist. Politely or dis.
creetly, Professor Curie awards chief
credit for the success of himself and his
Wife to Madam Curie. SO the older
Adam She gave me Of the tree and
did eat" If gold should become drug
on the market, If everything else should
get to be more valuable than money-man
at least, won't be to blame.
1T was about two years ago.. saws
Dr. Frankforter, 'that Professor and
Madame Curie first isolated less than q
pound of the new metal out of 1000, O0C
pounds of pitchblende, an oxide OF
uranium ore. The bottle I'm carrying
around contains a fraction Of that pound
The wonderful characteristics of ra-
Little Is known of actnum. 1t might be
simpler to take polonium for illustration
The Polish metal, then, does six remark.
able things:
First, it gives off x-rays, so to speak
that will 'ionize' gases, to use the lates
phrase. mean that the rays will sc
break up the atoms of the gas that Il
Will De transformed into q good conduc
| tor of electricity
Observation-Disclosures, mill +,1,o ,h.4a
graphs by means Of its queer rays, sucl
photograph as I made yesterday by
my little bottle Of polonium, actinum ant
radium mixture.
+ "Third-Polonium throws out greenish
white, phosphorescent light that can bt
seen In broad day. It is like the flores
cence that accompanies the X-rays. Whe1
person looks at the new metal with hi
eyes closed he sees a glare before hin
as if he stood in front of bright electri
| light.
| Fourth-Polonium will transmit it
own light temporarily to several othe
metals and to various substances, such a
glass and carbon.
! 'Fifth-Polonium burns constantly in
most extra ordinary fashion. It Is the frs
authentic instance of combustion withou
apparent fuel. The temperature OF tn
metal Is always about two degrees abov
| the temperature of the air.
"Fffth-The rays given off by poloniur
have physiological effect similar to tina
of X-rays; they produce scald or bills
ter. Curie found, after carrying abou
a small bottle Of the polonium and radiur
salts, that his side was blistered beneat
the pocket that held the bottle. hav
carried around these polonium salts for
long time, but am sorry to say I can
show single burn.
| Nov, as to the practical results. Man
great things are sure to follow sooner {
later from Madame Curie's discover,
But at present we can look principally
the use of polonium instead of X-ray ar
paratus for the more extensive treatmer
of lupus and other tuberculous diseases.
Another use for polonium occurs to m
It transmits it's own phosphorescence, q
I've said, to various substances Place
beside diamond a grain or two of pole
mum and the diamond will look like
ball of fire. The gem will keep this glo
for several hours and will take very goo
photographs In the dark. And If lit
polonium is put in bottle and the bo1
: tie is then emptied and carefully washe
: out, the bottle will still shine Brilliant
for long time. Now, why shouldn't ever
woman own glass diamonds and 'doctt
them up for a ball or a reception 6
horse dealers use drugs to produce prant
ing steeds to sell at auction?''