The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-02

more applications than distance n
tration, as the lead causes a loss
even Of much of the gamma rays
Radium also produces a kind of
gas, known ns IN emana ton, which
fills receptacle In which the metal
Is kept. This gas causes bodies with
which it comes in contact to become
radioactive for limited time. This
furnishes basis for another kind
of medical treatment. The radio
activity may be induced In water.
which Is then drunk and exercises
valuable curative effect In many in
tractable internal diseases. The
radio-actlvity may also be trans
ferred to solid substances and used
In the treatment Of abnormal
growths. AS the use Of the inored-
IDLY costly radium Is minimized by
this method it becomes an important
economy In treatment.
The alpha rays are charged WIN
particles Of positive electricity, the
beta rays with negative electricity.
while the gamma are apparently not
charged at all. When a stream OF
rad1um rays IS thrown into the field
OF an electro-magnet the alpha rays
are thrown to one side, the beta rays
TO another, while the gamma rays
flow straight.
With an instrument called the
spinthariscope 1t is possible to watch
the bombardment OF countless tiny
sparks produced by .radium. When
these are put under the influence of
the electro-magnet 1t is possible to
see the difference between the three
instance, that the alpha rays are
very weak and wabbly.
The alpha rays have strong bac-
tericidal action when they are
brought in immediate contact with
disease germs. THIS is why radium.
when held too near, destroys healthy
tissue cells, When a thin sheet OF
lead is held between the radium and
the object, the bacterlcidal action dis
appears.
The curative effect OF radium on
malignant growths Is not due to It's
baotericidal or germ-kill1ng power.
This is the opinion Of DR.. Robert
Able and other high authorities. In
treating malignant growths the bac-
tericidal action Of the alpha rays
must be eliminated to secure good
results. Their curative value Is at
tributed to some imperfectly under
stood power OF restoring the bal
ance Of normal cell growth.
The gamma rays have a decided
effect In checking life, When meal
worms were radiumized they went
on living as meal worms Indefinitely,
"verItable Methuselahs," while their
sisters and brothers. unradiumized,
progressed for generations, complet-
ing cycles Of beetles, eggs and meal
worms over and over again.
There are many ways Of applying
radium, One method. shown in the
large illustration at the head OF this
page, consists in preparing n paste
with radium bromide and spreading
1t upon metal plate having long
handle. The operator, wearing
rubber glave, applies this to the
tumor. The alpha and beta rays may
be eliminated by keeping this at
distance of about two inches or Dy
interposing a sheet OF lead.
The length of application varies
with the case DR.. Able speaks OF
case where he applied radium for
thirty minutes TO malignant growth
and II began to retrograde In ten
days. In another case he applied IL
for twenty-four hours.
Two other methods OF application
consist IN placing the radium In
leedeu tube. open at one end, ana IN
spreading 1t on cloth which Is at
tnched 70 the surface TO ne treaIeu;
Sulfate of radium Injected INTO t'@