Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-26

more applications than distance fill
tration, as the lead causes a loss
even of much of the gamma rays.
Radium also produces a kind of
gas, known as an emanation. which
fills a 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 a basis for another kind
of medical treatment. The radio.
activity may be induced in water,
which is then drunk and exercises a
valuable curative effect in many in
tractable internal diseases. The
radio-activity may also be trans
ferred to solid substances and used
In the treatment of abnormal
growths. AS the use of the incred-
IDLY costly radium is minimized by
this method it becomes an important
economy in treatment.
The alpha rays are charged with
particles of positive electricity, the
beta rays with negative electricity
whlle the gamma are apparently NOT
charged at all. When a stream Of
radium rays is thrown into the field
OF an electromagnetic 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 it is possible to watch
the bombardment of countless tiny
sparks produced by radium. When
these are put under the influence of
the electromagnetic 1t Is possible to
see the difference between the three
KINDS OF rays. 1t may be seen, for
instance, that the alpha rays are
very weak and wabbly.
The alpha rays have a strong bac.
terictdal 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 bactericidal action dis
appears.
The curative effect of radium on
malignant growths is not due to its
bactericidal or germ-killing 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 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 a paste
with radium bromide and spreading
1t upon a metal plate having a long
handle. The operator wearing a
rubber glave, applies this to the
tumor. The alpha and beta rays may
De eliminated by keeping this at a
distance of about two inches or by
interposing 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 it began to retrograde in ten
days. In another case he applied 1t
for twenty-four hours.
Two other methods Of application
consist in placing the radium in
leaden tube, open at one end, and In
spreading it on a cloth which is at
tached to the surface 70 DE treated,
Sulfa re ne IN diIlu1 in iaptnd into fhe