The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-04-08

RI somebody snOuiu Coiiic " you
Nth ! twenty-dollar gold-piece in one
hand and in the other hand an equal
.so;ebt Of a Notwithstanding WHINE
rowder and ask you which you would
rather have, and you should reach
ont and take the twenty-dollar gold
niece YOU might lose just s3,611,-
$4,000 by the transaction. That is to
saw YOU might lose that amount II
the little pile of white powder hap
nened to be salt Of the metal radi-
nm. but you probably will not need
10 worry; for they do not carry radium
around in that careless way.
they do not sell radium by the
Mound. One reason is that there is
not 4 pound of it in the world. An
other reason is that there are not SO
many people in the world, even since
the world has made thi snew grist OF
millionaires, that could afford to buy
4 mound; for pound of radium would
be- worth around $5O,0OO.0OO.
Radium is sold by the ounce; the
last quotation at hand is $3,360,000.
platinum. famed for its scarcity and
value, is $3.50 an ounce. Radium is
ZOO times more valuable than the most
valuable diamonds: it is 2,240 times
as valuable as platinum; it is 10000
times as valuable as gold. A cubic
foot Of it would be worth $7,0O0,00o,.
600.
Yes, radium is sold by the ounce;
but as the total amount of refined
radium in the ~world is only a trifle
over three and one-half ounces, no
sale of an ounce at time has ever
been made The actual basis of sale
is the gram, which is about the thir-
tieth part of an ounce. One gram Of
radium would make a small-sized
thimbleful and would be worth over
100000.
There are $50 grains in an ounce;
and at $S,s6O,Oo per ounce, single
grain Of radium would cost just ST.
600, and this is probably the basis
upon which the radium manufacturers
figure their costs and prices. A grain
is the supposed average weight of a
medium-sized grain of wheat, and
there are about is of these in gram.
There are ITO grams of radium in ex-
istence, Of which about 20 per cent
was produced in the United States.
Radium is so valuable because it is
the nearest thing known to perpetual
heat. 1t is an element; but instead
Of being Quiescent like other elements.
i is in perpetual motion. 1t has been
compared to volcano constantly
shooting forth stones and ashes. Scien-
lists have calculated that out of ev-
cry 80 millions of atoms of radium
one atom goes off from the mass each
hour with speed estimated at $4,000
miles per second.
The discharge of these radium mis-
slles generates so much heat that a
gram Of radium small thimblefuD
generates in rs days enough heat to
RAISE a pint of water from freezing
% boiling. And this is done continu-
ously' day and night. without ceasing.
y Is estimated that LOO years would
De required for given quantity OF
aaium 70 lose half its potency, so
snat to all intents and purposes, as
iar as we human beings are concerned,
may be said that it is indestructible
and lasts forever.
Radium in it's natural state is a
metal, il any substance can be said to
nave natural state that behaves so
peculiarly: but it can be hammered
mo powder, covered with lead, dis
so'sed IN acid, heated, frozen or melt
- and gives out the same quantity
= neat constantly. regardless Of what
happens to il. with the heat it also
s'ses gu q faint light.
ine use Of radium. in the cure OF
saneers and other maligant growths
s'lh N ITS experimental stages. It's
ase''veness depends upon the kind
cancer the situation of the cancer,
eng me promptness with which the
saaeer Is discovered and brought un-
Vt the radioactive influence. But it
ass oeen found helpful and d number
Uses have been cured by it.
!. ne Unfortunate hing about cancer
'nat most people do not know they
s. afflicted until it is too late. This
:. s'''ele malady. it is claimed, finds
Victims one woman in eight and
- nan b ii who PASS the age y