Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-12-24
THE HASKIN LETTER
WASTING RADIUM.


] continued WasJake VI idoAuLA
\ foolishly depicting the supply OF n
worlds most valuable metal IS
claimed by biologists here. Every
mi,ligram OF radium is Jealousy
/ boarded by the medical profession
AZ a great power for healing. Yet
large quantities of 1t are annually
/ introduced into luminous paints so
that wrist watches and alarm clocks
may be conveniently consulted in
i the dark.
II is true that, precious as ra-
| dunn is, there is only 10 or Is cents
worth of II on the luminous dial OF
a watch. But when thousands OF
| time pieces are made luminous, the
| value of the radium consumed Is
estimated to reach not less than
100000 q year. This means about
| three grams of radium, which seems
a small amount. until you remem-
her that there is less than half a
| pound of the metal in the world at
present, and very little Is added
each year.
The lamentable feature of the
| luminous dial business. where ra-
| dunn is used. is that the precious
metal is permanently lost. The ra-
dunn on the dial is still potent long
after a clock has succumbed to old
age, but the amount Of the metal
there Is s ininitesimal hat it
would be impossible to recover it.
The point made in this connection
is that the radium IL wasted unrec-
essarily. There IL a metal similar to
radium, known as mesothorium
which is equally efficient In illumi-
mating watch faces. and which is.
the logical material to be employed
for this purpose. Mesothorium is
not a new material. 1t vas discov-
cred in 1905. Its cost Is only about
half that Of radi0m. yet 1t has never
been widely used by clock and in
strument makers though there is
presumably enough of it available.
The life of mesothorium Is only
about seven years. At the end of
this time, IL the watch with a lum-
nous dial In in working order 1t is a
small repair job to have the dial
illuminated again or replaced.
Radium unlike mesothorium loses
it's power 80 gradually that it may
for practical purposes be regarded
as retaining it indefinitely. 1t is
estimated that in 1900 years ra-
dunn loses onehalf its weight. and
in 1900 more years another half.
Obviously a wrist watch Is not go
nix W Ao&N. AOAAo
thy of so ageless a material.
Radium Lasts.
The long life of radium is what
makes it really practical o med
ical purposes. II 1t could be used
but once, or even a few times. the
cost of radium treatments would
be prohibitive. But, because the en-
ergy of radium is undiminished by
use, it is within the reach of rich
and poor alike. where hospitals
make use of it. 1t does not matter
whether it Ia kept in sunlight or in
a hot or cold place. None of these
conditions affect its strength.
1t is shut up in leaden baskets
to prevent theft and as a protection
to people and objects around it, So
powerful are the forces emanating
from a few grains of radium that
the Bureau of Standards ffnd it
necessary to enclose its supply in a
lead case and to place before hat
a lead screen. Until the screen was
obtained the radium rays projected
themselves into the mex room, and
affected the delicate mechanism OF
a number of the bureaus valuable
Instruments.
AllShe possibilities of radium
have probably not been exhausted.
No new uses have been discovered
recently. Doctors who are inter-
ested are constantly making exper-
iments.
Radium has been found t o cure
some types of cancer and some tu-
mors and to fail absolutely with.
others. 1t has proved almost inva-
riably successful as a means OF re-
moving birthmarks and softening
horJannd ~oArc laff hxr thu healing
Of wounds. Yet in the ACE of in
disputable cures, doctors still disa-
gree regarding the curative value of
the metal. One skeptical physician
who scoffed at the idea of radium
having any power. allowed himself
to be treated with 1t for q cancer.
After az hours he admitted that it
did indeed have some potent prop
critics. for 1t had nauseated him ex-
tremely.
Nausea is the main immediate
reaction upon the patient. Treat
ment y not usually accompanied
by much pain. and the ultimate ef-
| feet 10 to lessen suffering. Serious
ness Of burns from radiurN have
been over-emphasized in the opin-
ion Of one expert here who prefers
| nSt to be quoted. He explained that
constant handling of radium by &c
tors and nurses occasionally causes
the fingers to become tender and
glazed, and in some diseases in or
der 10 obtain suficient intensity of
| the rays it is Inevitable that there
should be burning % the tissues.
But these are not frequent occur-
rencss in the use of radium. In
deed. radium is used to heal burns
from X-rays.
Cures Some Cancers.
Radium's most conspicuous ser
vice to humanity so far has been
as a treatment for several types of
ANGER. 1t does not always cure,
even those forms which respond TO
treatment, But where it only re-
lieves suffering and removes the
terrible odor which so often accom-
panies ANGER. it is a remedy OF in
estimabie value.
As for the future of the supply,