The Washington herald., 1909-04-07


a billion years. Weighing twelve milli-
grams. and valued at $500, the specimen
was examined with great care by the
audience
As the speaker told OF the wonderful
properties Of the product and cited the
results obtained from its use. the MEM
bers Of the society listened with an in
terest that approached a degree Of mys-
tery.
Exhibits Three Specimens.
The first specimen shown by the doc
tor IS known as German product. and is
the bromide Of radium. having a radio
activity equal 10 100000. A smaller
quantity OF French manufacture. ham
died under different circumstances. and
equal TO 10000 radio activity. was shown,
in addition to two miiligrams OF the same
product exhibited and preserved in such
manner as 10 throw OF three distinct
rays. known as ALPHA, beta. and CANINE
rays.
The mineral. owing TO its property TO
emit light and heat. was examined under
circumstances that prevented the enthusi-
astic auditors from being burned while
handling the aluminium and glass tubes
that contained the substance.
After he had demonstrated the physical
and chemical properties Of the substance.
DR.. Harvey began his address. lie said.
in part:
"Radium was first discovered bv a
French scientist by the name OF Bacarral.
who obtained the substance from the
residue OF uranium mixed with pitch
blend. He included radium In his expert
ments with the ROentgen rays. and OBJ
tained what is known az the radium OF
10000 radio activity. While his expert
ments were being heralded poor French
woman working IN the laboratories Of
Paris started an investigation 20 find out
what caused the radio activity IN ura-
mum. Nine. Curie accordingly went 10
the pitch blend fields Of Bohemia. and
after spending twelve or fourteen months
in precipitating uranium in caustic soda
and sulphurio acid, she dissolved about
two tons OF the thick. muddy blend until
she obtained two ounces Of radium, made
up OF mixture OF bismuth, cotton. ba-
rum, and mud.
Germany Stops Export.
She went back TO Paris and astonlshed
the scientific world with her discovery.
which was further perfected BY herself
and husband, who collaborated in separ-
ating the bismuth from the solution.
This product obtained they called radium-
Because Germany at this time forbade
the expectation Of pitch blend and the
Importation Of certain materials neces-
sary 70 discover radium, Madame Curie
was prevented from continuing her ex-
periments. The Germans and especially
DR.. Staurmel. are now making what is
known as the bromide OF radium which
has a radio activity equal 70 $4,000"
DR.. Harvey then explained the strength
Of the rays diffused by the dark brown
powder. and told how they were applied TO
cure cancer or other lupus growths.
He declared he had treated numerous
patients IN Washington since receiving
the radium six months ago, and that his
efforts had been attended with success.
entirely healing the disease and leaving
no scar.
When questioned as 10 the strength OF
the twelve milligrams first exhibited bv
him, DR.. Harvey replied that il was suf1-
C4ehl 10 ulscharSe German electrode !
through his body, and strong enough 10
photograph a bullet loaded in a three
inch rife.
Applause had greeted Dr. Harvey's OBJ !
servationss but when, in conclusion. he
promised the members Of the society that
he would gladly loan all or any portion /
Of the sixteen Kilograms OF radium owned !
by him. he was forced to pause while the /
physicians applauded.
Special methods OF anesthesIa." was
me SUBJECT or the essay read by Dr. NJ \
Crlchton- He described the anesthetic /
properties Of cocaine as vastly superior TO 1
ether or chloroform, and recommended
that II be used for medical operations in
place Of any other narcotic.
His conclusion contained the prediction /
that cocaine would supercede all other
forms Of anesthesia within the next ten
years.