Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-12
RADIUM AS REMEDY
IT'S REMARKABLE PROPERTIES
AND POWER DISCUSSED.
Paper Read Before Medical Society
Giving Results Of Experiments
Practical Demonstration.

Rad,um and its healing properties were
discussed at length before the Medical 80
ciety of the D strict of Columbia last hlsht
at the Georgetown University Law Schooi
by DR. John H. MetZerott and Prof. truman
Abbey both of whom have been eHoefi
menting with this wonderful natural eie-
ment since 1898. DR.. Metzerott explained
to the members of the society that suppiles
of radium were obtained. through frolessoi
Langley of the Sm4thson- an INSTITUTION
from Paris III 1898, and seres OF eXpeIl-
ments were conducted by him, assisted ny
Professor Abbey, for the purpose OF oe-
terming the possible use of the new eie-
ment in medicine. In view OF the results
that have been obtained by use OF the a
raw DR. Metzerott said, he was led to BE-
gin the experiments OF radlum, anu III 81
doing he had discovered that the new eie
ment seemed to have a most benehc!ai Ell
feet on injuries to the hesh-"oulus'
burns superintendent cancer.
His experiments had been carried on un
der the most favorable auspices, he salo:
and he proceeded to detail number Oh
cases where the curative powers OF raoiun n
had been tried, giving a history OF each
case. In a majority of the cases the eject
was a complete cure, but the speaker on
served that during the course or his expert
ments radium seemed to have peculiar
effect ON other cases, and in some instances
had failed to effect a cure. Owing to the
inexplicable failure of the element in such
cases, the speaker said, he was not able
to lay down a rule that 1t would erect d
cure in every case, nor was he able to state
lust what principle was the base of the
element operations.
At the conclusion of his paper DR.. Met
zerott introduced patient suffering with
cancer over the ear lobe and proceeded to
SHOW the effect of the use of radium. TAX
ing piece of the crystal of the highest
strength obtainabe, he held it about half
an inch from the patients head for about
twenty minutes The members of the So
ciety then had opportunity to observe the
peculiar bleaching effect of the element on
the skin.
When this practical demonstration of the
medicinal properties of radium was over
Prof Abbey displayed several specimens of
the crystal and one or two specimens OF
pitch blende, explaining their properties
and action. He showed several photographs
which had been taken in dark room with
only the light suffused by radium. The
pictures We're most distinct. He explained
the wonderful rado-activity, and stated
that a man who handled the specimens
dared not make any electrical experiments
because of the effect they would have on
his person.
There was little discussion of the paper,
what there was being in the main prompted
by inquiries as to just what effect the dis
covery of radium would have on the med
zeal profession and the curing of the sick
and afflicted. Some of the members of the
society We're skeptical to the effect Of
the element.
Before the close of the meeting the MEM
bers of the society were given opportunity
to see for themselves the remarka BILE light
properties of the new element The lights
in the room were turned off and Prof Alb
hey held at arms length small phials con-
tanning radium of different strength The
phials resembeled glow worms or patches
of phosphorescent light In the inky black
ness of the room, but the light diffused was
m q nd 81,
either of the subjects with which it is COM
pared.