New-York tribune., 1905-11-18
PROFESSOR BURKE'S "RADIOBES."


1t is not unlikely that, for one purpose an
other, there have been many attempts to repeat
the experiments which Professor j. Butler Burke
publicly described last June and which led him
to think that life could be developed from
compound of gelatine and beef tea by the action
of radium. Mr. w. A Douglas Rudge who is
connected with a school in Suffolk England, did
So and he tells in Nature about a curious OBJ
servation that he made while exhibiting Profess
sor Burke's methods to a class Of students. This
was that the strength Of the radium salt which
he employed seemed to bear no relation to the
quickness with which the effect produced.
He was thus led to undertake series of tests
with various salts of a different element To his
surprise, he found that the oxide and several
other compounds of barium operated as efec
lively as radum, and some OF them even better.
There were however, exceptions to the rule. The
sulphate and three other salts of barium APP
peared to exert influence, but eight or nine
did the iodide proving the most rapid in its
action Microscopic particles of the salts which
he names would, after falling on clear gelatine,
create small centres of cloudiness which he calls
"specks,' and out of the specks would emerge
bubbles of different sizes. most of them,
though. being exceedingly diminutive.
Mr.. Rudge is evidently not original investi-
gator, and no one can say what possible errors
may have characterized the methods pursued in
some one else verify his work before his state
ments can be fully accepted. Still. as they
stand they raise a doubt concerning the correct
ness of one of the suppostions of Professor
Burke who attributed the modification of the
culture medium used in his experiments to radio
activity. Now only four five elements can
safely be regarded as primary sources of that
complex and mysterious influence. Many others
are feebly radioactive but the property may be
acquired, not native. Barium, if not entirely
lacking in that quality is certainly not conspicu-
Gus for it, There is chance, therefore. that the
coagulation of albumen, which renders the gela-
tine opaque and the formation of tiny bubbles
the two principal effects observed by Mr. Rudge
may be chemical phenomena pure and simple.
In the very short report of his work which he
supplies the Suffolk instructor does not indulge
iii comment He does not say what he thinks of
Professor Burkes theories of the nature of
"radiobes." SO far as outward appearances go.
Mr. Rudge confirms the main features of the
Cambridge Investigators narrative but the allu-
sion to bubbles will remind the reader of Sir
William Ramsay's suggestion that perhaps growth
in the size of Professor Burkes opaque globules
and their multiplication by splitting NAV be
strictly mechanical consequences of the evolu-
ton of gas. Since growth and multiplication
We're the only well attested facts that could be
regarded signs of life, Sir Williams explana-
| tion seems completely 10 undermine Professor
Burke's hypothesis; and uutil his view of the
matter Is found to te erroneous It would not be
wise to adopt any other. II may also turn out
that radiO-activity has nothing to do with the
case" The character of the agency that wrought
! the observed change in gelatine. however. is of
less Importance than that of the product. Should
| it prove that Professor Burke was mistaken in