Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05
pepetual agent to its curative equip

ment.
While seemingly harmless. radium
hands of one unfamiliar with its pecu-
liar properties Under certain condi-
tions. the rays may injure' the SKIN
and even start the generous growths
II is used to cure. Many of the early
experimenters suffered the loss of one
or more fingers from cancer caused by
the misuse of radium. although no pain
was felt at the time of the injury.
Even Prof. Becqueral, the well known
French scientist. once placed tube of
radium in his pocket during n journey
and carried it several hours before
reaching the town where he was to lee
ture. A few days later a sore appeared
upon his body directly under the plate
where the radium had been carried.
The skin sloughed off and the flesh was
for weeks painfully sore.
1t is claimed that under some circum-
stances radium may retard natural de-
velo pment
Also May Retard in both anil
Natural Development. plant cells.
A Paris student placed in two tubes the
larvae of small moth which feeds
upon flour in its caterpillar state. Those
in one tube We're left in their natural
were exposed to radium rays. After
several weeks the larvae left in their
natural condition went through their
usual metamorphosis, changing into
moths which in their turn laid and
Matched eggs Most of the larvae eX-
posed to radium influence died. but
those that were alive were still in tho
state of larvae. They lived as gruba
about three times az long as normally.
The scientist suggests the fortune in
fnrn F0v fhn1 a1 Otalt lot rbnh he
comes sufficiently deXtrous in the use
Of radium to treat young women so
that they maintain the appearance and
nature of eighteen when they have
grown to three times that age.
1t Is now believed that radium exists
in other substances than the ores now
being mined to secure 1t. although in
such minute quantities as not to war;
rant the great expense of securing 1t.
Many healing waters have been found
to owe their curative power to radio
active properties. Radium water is
now being experimental with by the
Radium Institute of London and is
credited with the capability of curing a
number of ailments, including govt.
dyspepsia, rheumatism and neuritis.
This liquid is prepared by permitting
radium emanations to bubble through
distilled water. 1t is costly and con.
tinued use is necessary to produce re-
suits. single glass is worth dollar,
and the patient using radium water
must expect to drink at least 500
worth before he can look for improve
ment.
Radium is also likely to develop many
Industrial uses. Agriculture is the only
one as yet established 1t is believed
that the residue ore left after the ra-
dunn has been extracted will still re-
tain enough of its principle to be of
great value to the farmer. Dr. H. H
Rusby. dean of the Columbia Univer-
sity College of Pharmacy. has been
conducting a number of radium expert
ments in connection with plant lifr
during the present year. He has mad.
observations of dollhouse radtsh.:
grown in boxes of field crops IN Ohio
and of gardens in Pittsburgh and at
his own home, near Nutley, N ]. He
has demonstrated that a judicious use
Of radium supplies a powerful plant
stimulus. although. If care is not TAX
en- 1t may kill the plants. The rad
ishes grown in radium-treated ground
had smaller tops than those grown in
ordinary soil few feet away, but the
roots were considerably larger and ex-
ceptionally tender and fine favored.