Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-13
Lessons in Science
Has Radium Made Good2

EIaS naoiun mdue SooSt
Twelve years of eager experiment.
have passed since Professor ana Nine.
Curie announced the discovery OF
radiUm Almost at once reports of the
curative powers of the new mineral
were published. Has radiun after
twelve years tests justified that early
reputation
The diseased states In which radium
has been tried range from the most
malignant internal cancers To badness.
such widely diverse ailments as facial
paralysis. neuralgia. rheumatism, ny
drophobia. Indigestion and skin dis
eases have been reported as cured by
the wonderful new mineral,
Seven years ago two distinguished
professors at konigsbcrg University
published some startling results OF the
deadly effect the radium RAYS exert
on disease bacteria of all kinds. HaV-
ing first SprinlNled live typhoid bavllli
ON gelatine plate they exposed the
plate in u dark room 10 weak radium
emanatons for forty eight hours. At
tine end OF this time it was found that
the nacilli We're either killed or their
growth was completely stopped.
similar good results were obtained with
the germs of cholera and anthrax.
Thcs" experiments, emphasizing the
pronounced gcrmicidal effect OF radi-
uIn. were looked upon as opening up
a new field OF treatment fer infectious
diseases OF the skin
In 1908 a distinguished -, Petersburg
s;tvant announced in various medical
journals his discovery that certain of
ii jSh nj,
iects ilumined by radium RAYS.
The professor expressed tine strong
hope that by further experimentation
with the wonderful element he would
be able 10 restore the sight t. sufferers
from certain varieties of blindness.
Thcs4 published reports were taken
most seriously in German scientific
circles. 50 much 50 that Professor
Greet. the principal of the Eye Hos
pitaI at the Berlin University, was
instructed by tile Prussian minister
of education Ia go thoroughly into the
Russian doctors experiments
The published reports tmany "t them
in ronutabr journals NJ apparently
authentic cures of dcep-seated cancers,
both the careinomata ard Sarcomdta.
by the US. = Iadlum were curing the
early years OF radium experimentation
too numerous to record.
OF all these therapeutic uses elalmsd
for iadium. how many Eave stood the
test of time
Sir Frederick TreNe:; IN hctufe al
tn, London Hospital last YEAR summed
up the situation in a WAY which should
give food for thought Ia the general
public. who are teo apt to he ned away
in pursuit of vain hope
1T has appeared to M. he told the
great coneourst Of medical ,een htes-
ent. that there is possibly great
future for radium in the domain Of
surgical therapeutics. say possibly
because one must exercise the very
greatest caution when speaking OF the
potentialities of New remedies One IS
tennted to look too favorab!E upon
them. They are things Of great ~
pectatioas and sooner ~ later must De
associated with disappoil.tme nt.
OF the iEnumerablr curative useS of
radiuin which We're to reVolutioEize
both medicine and surgery, few ItaN'
come up to their earlier expectations.
Khcumatisn and neuralgia are Stlll
most intractahle ailments. facial par
alvsie still defies the physicians efforts,
tile pasteur institute has not odt-
grown its usefulness while ordinary
ccrmicides are still in common use.
notwithsta nding the deadly effects
which radium carnations are known
to have ON bacteria. Record