The Washington times., 1914-02-09
NO SECRET PROCESS
TOEXTRACT RAD|UM
Americans Fail Through Lack
of Experience, Says Nine.
Curie'S Assistant.

PARIS. Feb. s.-Andre Begierne. en-
gagged in research work in Nine. Curie'.
laboratory, denied the existence Of se,
cret process for extracting radium. Ow.
ing to the careful guarding Of which
in Europe, it has been stated that
American factories are unable to ex,
tract sufficient radium from the ore
to permit them TO pay European prices
"An that is known concerning the
handling Of radium." said Mr.. Debierne
may be learned by anyone supplying
sufficient references. At present there
are no Americans among some fifteen
pupils studying under Nine Curie, but
several Americans, notably Prof. Duan
OF Boston, a member OF the cancer
commission spent some time working
with Nine. Curie
The real secret Of extracting radium
e-'en"e in its handling, and
II American factories fail to show salts
It.. ,'.., Iesults II is chiefly because the
industry is new. The same thing hap
pcncd in Europe at hrst / know OF
several houses which at the beginning
"f operations lost enormous sums OF
money which they only now are begin
nlng to recoup after many years of
work. Almost all the experts at these
factories come from Nine. Curie's lab
American or student of other nation
ality who takes the trouble to learn
rafiums intricacics.
Is Delicate Process.
Extracting radium Is such a deli
cate process that even after leaving tie
Curie laboratory and all the facts con-
ccrning the extraction are known il
takes years of experience to make the
operators sufficiently expert 10 detect
and prevent losses liable TO occur during
the various processes. There is nothing
to prevent American factories catching
UP and surprising those Of Europe il
sunlcient study is devoted to radium to
make the operators expert.
In regard to what VIII be the effect
on the radium market If the United
States withdraws radium producing
lands, I am unable TO say. As far as
the Curie Institute Is concerned the
project will not greatly affect us, for
the quantity We consume Is very small
compared with other institutions.
Ihe last radium we bought was from
Barlow Willmarth some two years ago.
We have bought nothing since. The
nigh price OF radium is, in my opinion
not due to the manufacturers or con-
sumers, but TO the prices asked by the
sellers.
1T is possible that Mr.. willmarth is
on his way to Europe to get in touch
with the conditions Of the radium mar
ket in Europe, but / have not seen
him"
In Poor Health.
NJ. Debierne says Nine. Curie is still
in very poor health. despite the danger
GUS operation Of a couple of years ago,
which it was hoped would cure her.
Mime. Curie is suffering from
curious Inflammation of the kidney.
Sometimes for periods she Is COM
pIetely struck down. SO far, except
for these methods, she has been able
to keep UP ner work, but she nconom- \
izcs her strength as far as POSSIBLE
by seeing no ono. The thought hds
crossed our mind that Nine CurieIs
affection may have something 10 do
with her radiun work, but We halo
no means OF verifying such a sIn-
position. r.
"Tho new Curie Institute, near kbo
SoTbOnne, is now almost ready. Mna
Cur!e looks forward to the remlov5j
there in n couple of months, Wbere
she will be able to conduct c2n%ri-
ments in more comfortable SURF rbund-
inEs.
Concerning the work on (which
Nine. Curie is now engaged I am abIs
TO say nothing. Nine. Curie haS; made
q RUE not to speak Of the obIect of
her experiments until there Is ia com
plete realization, and she cay make
these known first through YcirutIfir
ChRpneIs.'