New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-05
RADIO-ACTTVs GAS.

For several weeks a story has been current
10 the effect that the ground water In the
vicinity OF New-Haven possesses radioactive
qualities After al elaborate Investigation
Professor Bumstead. Of Yale, confirms IL. al
though the properties under discussion were
manifested by e gas given OF by the water
when the latter was boiled The gas could
also he obtained directly from the earth ny
sinking q pipe only few inches. but tie pre-
sumption Is that IL had previ us'y been In COM
bination with the denser nuid. and had n n
aged 70 free Itself. Professor Bumstead under
took the inquiry at the request Of Professor
J. ]. Thomson. Of England. with the special
ohjsrt OF sscertainlng whether the gas Is iden-
teal with that given of By solutions OF radium
salts Having reached an affirmative conclu-
SION. the New-Hsven physicist naturally infers
that the soil beneath and around New-Iiaven
must hide deposits Of IN ore containing rsdiun.
No solid material which wss itself radioactive
could be recovered from the water. but there
would seem 10 be little doubt 10 the manner
In which the latter acquired It's pecuIarities
One effect OF this discovery will be to slim
ulate n search for radlun Itself In Eastern
/, Connecticut Within the last few months tie
possession Of radioactive properties by water
has been reported from number of places.
notably In Europe In most instances the evil
dpnce hes pointed to sources AZ a considerable
depth and possibly nj a great horizontal dis
lance from the locality in which the ohserva-
lions were made. The Indications at New
Haven are more encouraging TO prospectors.
The nearness OF the gas TO the surface OF the
ground is tantallzing In its suggestiveness.
though the hint may be deceptive. Two things
cooperate in making the present price OF radi-
um extraordinarily high. One is the supposed
- -a..F-, -
and the other is the cost of extraction. Even
should no great reduction OF the latter be
effected In the immediate future, much would
be gained II good ores should prove to be
abundant What service radum is destined
70 render 20 humanity is yet uncertain. but
there can be no doubt that during the present
period Of experimentation anything which con-
duced 10 cheapness would be a boon 10 science
Whether any practical use can be made Of
water that has Ieached through a soil contain
ing this strange element. or of the gas given of
by such fluids. is a question that will receive
careful consideration. Professor Bumstcad's
tests show that the radIo-activity ~ the errana-
ton examined by him is exceedingly feeble lie
was able 10 detect II only by means Of a delicate
electroscopa No method OF concentration an
pears at present 20 be feasible Besides. the In
tensity OF the phenomenon diminishes slowly
having been reduced 30 per cent in four days
Mr.. soddy and others have hoped that the gas
which is nrtifcialiy prepared from thorium and
radium might display germicidal effects when
inhaled No one has yet imputed to the gas OBJ
tained naturally any remedial value Perhaps
II Is not strongly enough irnpregnated 10 do
good. Manifestiy though. large and irnpor-
fant field Of investigation is here outlined 1t Is
not Incredible that new explanations will he
afforded Of the beneficial influence Of the waters
OF certain mineral springs. taken internally or
employed In baths. 1t Is possible more over
ihst fresh inf rmation may also he obtained I'm
regard to the best method OF employing these
agencies. different set Of tests from thoss
hitherto In vogue may be deemed necessary 70
establish their merits. and II may prove ex.
padient also to inquire whether the bolpful
qualities Of these waters are so evanascent that
only prompt use after they issue from Tho
ground Is TO he recommended