Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-22
ABOUT RADIuM.
The Wonderful Properties of the Newly
Discovered Substance.

|
What is all this about radium? What
! is radium? Where does 1t come from!
What is the use of it? These are ques-
lions which have been frequently asked
during the last two or three weeks,
! and have sometimes been answered In
very odd ways. To begin with, radium
| is not found in pitch, though that or
| igin has been assigned to it in print.
and cutting has been produced from
more than one pocketbook to confute
the rash skeptic. 1t is obtained from
mineral called pitchblende, which real
ly differs rather widely from pitch in
it's physical properties. Pitch blende
is an ore found in Saxony and con-
tanning iron, barium, uranium and 9TH
err metals. Along with these are very
small quantities of radium, the extrac-
ton of which is very laborious and
costly business. Looking for needle
in a haystack is probably more exhil-
arating occupation than looking for
few milligrammes of radium In a truck
load of pitchblende. Naturally the
stuff is rather dear. Anybody who can
get a supply fairly pure at 10 shillings
per millgramme would not hurt him.
self much by making a corner" That
price works out at somewhere near IS
per grain, or say, roughly, l5,00O
per ounce; but, as there is not an
ounce in the market, the quotation
may be taken as nominal. OF course,
we never know what may happen.
Somebody may dig into store of ra-
dunn less horribly entangied in masses
Of refractory ore. But for reasons too
reconcile to be explained here, this is
regarded as extremely improbable.
The stuff makes amends for the
smallness of its amount by it's remark
able properties. A little of 1t goes a
very long way. There are some bodies
that can be stimulated by light or 9TH
erwise in such a manner that they aft
erward shine in the dark. Radium
brought near to these bodies causes
them to shine. A mere fraction of a
grain in solution poured from one YES
sci to another leaves on them enough
of itself, even after they are washed in
the usual way, to give them temper
arily the power of causing this light
effect upon a sensitive screen. 1t is
like grain of musk making everything
in a wardrobe smell of musk though
there has been no material contact.
Something must pass from the radium
to the sensitive body, and the puzzle
lust now is as to the nature of the
something. Does radium shoot off in
initely minute particles of itself to pro-
luce it's effects? What explains such
suicidal conduct, which, going on
through geological time, might explain
why so little radium is left? Or does
it do something to the ether, which IN
turn does something to the sensitive
screen? Again, why does 1t go on do
ing this, when apparently nothing IS
being done to the radium itself? There
ire all sorts of theories, but in reality
nobody knows. This is not the worst.
however. NJ and Nine. Curie, two dis
tinguished French investigators, have
recently announced that radium emits
heat, steadily and constantly. They
have measured the amount and find it
lutte considerable.
Charity begins at home. and rar,',n
Ices not forget to keep itself warm; II Is
said to be always between TWO anu tIii.c
degrees better than the other things IN ITS
vicinity whereas every weil-conuucteu
substance comes to the same temperature
as its surroundings; This paradoXical be.
aavior calls urgently for explanation nation ere
Charles and the Royal Society. Before
,a.Xplaining why radium is hot. they wo3 nn
the other side it is pointed out that M
Curie has great reputat ton at stake. ana
that the incredible nature OF his announce i,
himself and must have made him doubiy
and trebly careful to verify his results In
every POSSIBLE way h ne is Go nstitn 2Eep
IN June, we may then hear more about
his methods and proofs if the full light of
truth is not meanwhile turned on by ma
live inquiries.
Radium has yet other properties which
are also remarkable, though they chiefly
containing a few milligrammes near.
mans temple and he will get the sensation
If a Hash of light Most of us have seen
sharp tap on the nose, and radlum pro
luces much the same effect without \io-
lence. If kept for a few hours near the
si,in a tube of radium raises blister
ina produces a sore, which. however, does
lot 80 very deep. This effect takes place
through ones clothes. therefore radium
s. not recommended as pocket compan-
on. Applied to the nerve centers, II PRO- pro-
irces paralyzing effects sufficient to XIII
small creatures whose centers are near
the surface and therefore not Wen pro.
tected. The bacteriologists lind that IL
Kills some of their pets. All these Things
! does through glass for nobody can az,
dnwillingly credit 1t with the diaDoiical
power of shooting its own. particles
through glass, but the alternative is That
i sends forth subtle but potent emana .
tons of some other kind. They somewhat
assemble Rontgen rays. but the difference
is that we make these rays by a conslueIe
able expenditure of power, while this stuit
pumps influence out of itself without any
visible means of support or renewal.
1t is asked, what is the use of all TINS!
One can only answer, more Scott1co:
What is the use of a baby? AS baby IL
is not of any USE in fact, it is a nuisance.
But it will grow into man, who Is OF use
In the same way it is not easy to say that
radium is at present of any use from the
strictly practical standpoint. 1t might
perhaps, be used homoeopathical!y for the
cure Of photopsia, which. as we have just
seen. it causes. If we had plenty of 1t, we
might paint London with calcium sui.
phide, put radium in the street lamps and
get mild moonlight everywhere, while
saving on gas and electricity. But people
careful of their complexion might object
to its effect upon the cuticle No. 1t can
not be said at present to be of extensive
practical utility. But it is only a baby.
md in dsveloping our knowledge of It we
are very. likely to hit upon something
useful, Or upon something that just gives
the hint required to make some other
piece of knowledge useful.
Within eli apn1nanipc