The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-02
.ADIUM DEATH
Peril facing
WEALTHY men
Mayor Jimmy Walker One
of Many Influential Citi-
zenS Taking Treatments.
BIZ United Press

By United Press
NEW YORK, April prominent
citizens in many communities, in
Guiding Mayor James j. Walker of
New York, were listed today as
users of radium water solutions
now under federal and medical in
vestigation as result of Eben M.
Byers' death.
An autopsy late Friday definitely
revealed that Byers died as result
of radium poisoning, DR.. Charles
Norris, chief county medical exam
iner said. "And it will take two
months to determine exactly how it
affected him.
Fates decreed that the wealthy
should be listed almost exclusively
as users of the compounds involved,
whereas in the radium poison case
which attracted nationwide atten-
ton a few years ago, only the poor
workmen who painted watch dialS
were affected. Lives of hundreds of
users of the radium water solution
are endangered, experts declared.
Doctors and experts have termed
radium solutions poisonous, and
have warned against their use. Med
ical associations revealed they have
been fighting use of the compounds
for months.
Walker Taking Cure
Mayor Walker revealed thta he
had been using form of radium
water for his rundown condition"
He intended to continue it, he said.
for he did not believe it contained
radium salts.
Only the deposits of salts in the
body, experts said, was dangerous.
Treatment externally by competent
physicians as in cancer or tumor
treatments was termed safe"
Somebody told me about a ma
chine that treats regular drinking
waher by means Of radium emana-
tons. had one sent to my apart
ment," Walker explained.
mo actual radium or radium salts
get into the water, and I consider
the effects beneficial. I'll continue
it, for I'm satisfied I haven't given
it fair trial. I am satisfied it is
harmless" the mayor declared.
Perils Are Pointed
DR.. Harrison S. MARYLAND, New
ark, who forecast death for vic-
TINS of radium dial paint, has
warned Of danger in the use of GER
tain radioactive waters.
DR., MARYLAND, Newark city path
ologlSt, was one of the conSultantS
in the ByerS case. He became ma
tionally known after his discovery
that many girls employed in paint
ing luminous watch dials had con-
tracted radium infections.
He wrote names of fifty victims
in notebook. Since then he has
crossed out the names of eighteen
who died.
DR.. MARYLAND told the United
Press the human body is normally
radioactive.
In my opinion, based on re-
search in more than a score of
cases, the normal radio-activity of
the body should not be increased
by any means" he said.
Several Dangerous Types
He particularly warned against
waters containing radium or meso-
thorium in solution. DR.. MARYLAND
specified Radithor, the patent
medicine which ByerS used.
Another radioactive water DR..
MARYLAND warned against is known
as the Emantor or Activator, a type
which contains radium gas.
MARYLAND also said he had re-
ceived a sample of German candy
containing radium, accompanied by
advertising matter declaring it
would cure variety sof ailments.
Examination of the sample showed,
DR.. MARYLAND stated, that it did con-
tain some radium and undoubtedly
was dangerous.