The San Francisco call., 1905-01-23
MEDICINE ORE
OF MONTANA
Radiumite Which Is Found
in Mines Effects Cures.
Called Rheumatism Rock
MEN CARRY TTTN pocket
MEN CARRY 1T IN POCKET
Mineral Which, if Rubbed,
Emits Strange "Cold Fire."
as It Is Denominated

Radiumite. the new designation CIV
en- to strange mineral possessing Pc
culiar medicinal properties, is being
found In several of the large mines in
the neighborhood Of Butte, Mont. For
years the diggers employed in the
Rarus and Lexington mines have been
aware or the presence of radiumite in
the workings and have become ac-
| qua1nted with one or two of its pc
| culiarities.
They called 1t medicine ore" and
rheumatism rock" and have been in
the habit of carrying bits of it in their
pockets at all times. They believe it
Is sure cure for miners .consump-
tlon," rheumatism, stomach ailments,
Kidney disease and various nervous
| disorders.
Although the miners themselves
have had implicit faith in the healing
properties of the ore for many years,
BUTTE doctors and the public generally
simply regarded it as a superstition,
placing the radiumite on a plane with
the buckeye and the rheumatism ring.
Since the discovery of radium and the
tracing of a relationship between 1t
and radiumite scientists and others
have been able to account for the
curative properties Of Montana's
medicine stones.'
EMITS A COLD FIRE.
The Butte medicine ore possesses
the strange quality Of emitting bril-
liant light under slight friction by
some metallic substance, or even with
a finger nail. The light is called
cold fire." because there is alb
solutely no heat to it, and its dis
plays are more brilliant under water
than out OF it. No value has ever been
found in the ore by mining men and
the only good 1t has served has been
as taiisman for the miners. who be-
lleve In its curative virtues, and as
specimens for mineral cabinets, for
which 1T was much sought and often
commanded very high prices.
While the Paris scientists were max
ing their wonderful experiments with
radium 1T occurred to Rarus miner
that the little Jumps Of medicine ore"
might contain the rare element discoy-
cred by the Curries and in that way
account for the cures and the faith of
the miners. He spoke to several Butte
chemists about 1t and they took suffi-
Gent interest in the matter to make a
careful analysis and many tests of the
ore. But aside from satisfying them
selves that it possessed a trace of
radio-activity, they could not account
for the strange properties of the min
eral In other respects.
ARE SENT TO PARIS.
Finally specimens of the ore were
sent to Paris and other great labora-
tories, but while reports were being
awaited from them DR.. G.. d. Bryant
of Butte became interested in the story
of the miner and he conducted a series
of experiments along an entirely differ
ent line. prompted only by curiosity.
He wondered If there was any basis
for the belief of the miners that the
medicine ore" could cure anything
and he began an investigation of a
number of reported cures Almost
without exception, as he found, men
and women who carried the mineral
claimed to have derived benefits from
II and could not be ridiculed out of the
idea that 1T was curative as well as
preventive. Then he made tests on
patients of his own, with results that
puzzled and astonished him, if they did
not convince him. He made a report
of his Investigations and conclusions
to his fellow physicians and then the
story of radiumite created sensation.
Since then doctors and scientists from
all parts of the world have taken an
interest in 1t, and many have visited
Butte to investigate for themselves.
The people of Butte are beginning to
take an extraordinary interest in the
search for the new medicine. Miners
have given up positions to search for
the ore. and superintendent are be-
sieged with applicants for jobs Sick
and decrepit men beg permission to
work where the medicine ore Is depos-
ited.-Chicago Chronicle.