The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-30
MAKES THE BLIND SEE.
Wonderful Results from the Use of
Radium.

Radium.
Vienna, July 30.-A celebrated ST Pc |
tersburg scientist. Prof. e. S. London. |
who Is the highest authority on the new
radium rays-which are pronounced the !
greatest discovery of modern times. be-
cause they may make the blind regain
eyesight-has published an article on
this engrossing subject, of which the
following is a translation:
''Radium has all the charm of the I'M
expected in science. which had no pre-
monition of its existence in nature. RAJ
dunn had never been foreseen nor fore
told. When it appeared it seemed to
protest against some scientific principles
such as the theory of the indiVisibnity
of atoms. etc. And the Dhysioicg- cal
and pathological qualities OF raulun
when they were discovered were quite
as great surprise again.
THE effect at radium rays upon living
organisms is shown in TWO ways. In
one case the eject of the rays Is felt
Immediately; in the other it is felt after
being latent for a longer or a shorter
period. The first case refers to the
eyes, the second 10 all the other organs.
Il shall speak of the effect upon the
eyes first. If we gaze upon a prepara-
ton OF radium under ordinary clrcum-
stances in daylight we see Drown
graduated power something like snuff.
But we have very different view wnen
we cover our eyes with a black band2ge
and wait five or ten minutes until we
get accustomed to the darkness. Il the
box with radum is approached to the
right eye we feel that a bright sphere
has been opened to our SlghI-IAe
brighter the nearer the box is approach
ed. we have a similar but d much
weaker impression in the lert eye, nut
when the radium is applied to the left
eye the right eye has the weaker i'm
preston.
1t makes no difference whether the
box with the radium is closed or placed
in an outer metal box, or whether many
hands are laid upon it to conceal 1t. The
same effect of light is felt when the box
is approached to the temple or the fore
head, or, in the case of persons with
small heads, to the back of the skull
"Of course the box and the powder
are not visible, only the light caused by
the radium. The experiment can be
made in dark room. and then the eyes
need not be blinded
THE next question which arises is
whether a person with covered ewes or
in the dark will perceive the objects
upon which the rays of radium are di-
rected. The answer is, No; because
the rays having reached the object they
Dass through il and are not thrown
back; they consist of material atoms,
and run in a straight line without de-
Waiting to any side.
But a blindfolded person soon learns
TO perceive where the radium is held
up to his eyes, whether from above be-
low or from either side.
This suggested trying to make blind
persons obtain perceptions which could
not be procured for them by any other
means hitherto adopted. But expert
ments soon showed that a direct infiu-
ence OF radium upon the retina of the
eye might do more harm than good. In
direct influence had to be resorted 10.
1T was found that when radium as
approached to screen of barlum- plat
in-cyanide the screen shone with
greenish fiuOrescence. The objects which
are to be shown to a blind person are
applied in any non-transparent material
on the fiuorescent screen. The screen is
held close to the eyes of the blind per-
son. who will feel the difference of light
and darkness, and by degrees win learn
to distinguish the dark figures on the
screen. In this manner the blind can be
taught to write. read and draw.
These theories have been practically
applied already. A bay of II who lost
his eyesight when he was II months old.
but who retained a slight perception of
the difference of light and darkness,
learned the letters of the alphabet first,
and then learned to read.
There is no living tissue in the world
upon which radium rays have no effect |
Experiments have been made with the ,
seeds of plant bacteria. ovum cells. /
frogs, worms guinea pigs. rabbits and
human beings. Radium rays were no.
ticed to do all these different organisms
harm.
The germs of plants and animals ex-
posed to radium rays lose the power of
growing. The skin of animals and hui
man beings exposed to radium will
show no effect at first, but after a time
q swelling sets in which becomes an
open wound that refuses to heal White
mice placed in box with radium sick
ened after few days and died of con-
gestion of the lungs
Lupus and other skin diseases have
been treated with radium rays, and en-
couraging results have been obtained.
There is no knowing what the future
has in store for humanity after the dis
coVery of radium."