The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-04
MARIE CURE,
DISCOVEREROF
RAD|UM, DEAD
Worlds Foremost Woman
Scientist Killed by
0VerWork.
MARTYR TO RESEARCH
Famed Pole Refused to
Quit Her Laboratory
Despite Illness.

BW IHifrd Press
PARIS, July Anime. Marie
Curie, IS, co-discoverer of radium,
and the worlds foremost woman
scientist, died today in a little SAM
tsrium at St. Cellemoz. upper Savoy.
Death resulted from a lung in
lection, aggravated by Nine. CURES
insistence upon continuing to work
over-long hours in her chemical re-
search laboratories despite her seri-
Gus condition.
She had been taken to the Sani-
tsrium late last Thursday. after she
had worked throughout the day in
resistance to the efforts of her COL
leagues and physicians to rest.
Her two daughters, Irene and Eve,
were at the bedside, together with
several physicians and assistants
from the world famous Curie Insti-
tute. who had shared her scientific
labors for the last fifteen years.
Realized Death Near
1t was said that Nine. Curie had
realized her critical condition for
months. and that knowing death
was not far away. she redoubled her
lsbors-seeking addition elements
contained in black uranium oxide
with which she had experimental
for more than twenty years. ..
It was with this substance that
the last years Of her co-opera-I
tive research with her husband. be-
fore his death, had been concerned.
In addition to her discovery of ra-
dunn, she was the diScoverer of the
lesser known element. pOlonium.
Physicians announced that her
death was due to "a general pull
monary infection" explaining that
this was not tuberculosis. The in
lection became out Of control last
week because Of her weakened con-
dition due to overwOrk.' Today
she was regarded as a martyr TO
science.
Without a formal declaration, the
government. 1t was indicated today.
probably will continue its support of
the Curie institute. created by gov
eminent funds and dedicated to
research and application of radium
in the treatment of cancer and
kindred disease.
Modest. TireleSs Worker
Nine. Curie was a modest little
woman. a tireleSs worker and one
whose entire being was centered IN
her work. Her association with
Pierre Curie began, in the last CEN
turv. in a French university class
room where. as Marie SklOdowsks.
a serious. silent Polish girl. she be-
came interested in Pierres strange
research.
Marriage united the two scientists
who we're later to know more about
radium than any scientists living
and who were able in later years to
apply this knowledge to therapeu-
tics.
The union Of the two scientists
was broken in 1906. when Pierre
Curie was run over by an automO-
bile truck on quai along the Seine
and killed instantly. His widow
carried on the research they had
started. and she brought to a sue
cessful conclusion their experiments
in curietherapy.
As long as she was able to work
in the small but modern laboratory
which the French government built
for her in the street which bears the
name of her distinguished husband.
Nine. Curie continued her study
OF polonium and radium which she
and her husband had discovered
how TO separate from black uranium
oxide. She also was interested in
televiSon-but she Scorned wireless
sets and the movies as entertain
ment.
Visited L. :. in 1929
In 1881. Nine. Curie took into her
laboratory as an assistant one of
her daughters. Irene. The other.
Eve. is not inclined toward science.
but is regarded as an unusual mu-
sicisn. Irene and her mother con-
tinued their explorations Of pitch
blend. source of radium.
Working ten hours a day, Nine.
Curie and her daughter lived aScetic
lives. oftern eating their meals.
meager little lunches. prepared in
the laboratory over a Bunsen burner.
In 1929. she went 10 the United
States. to be hOnored as no woman
scientist ever was hOnored before.
and TO receive with gratitude the
gram Of radium provided by Ameri-
can contributions.
Despite the remarkable work done
by Nine. Curie. she lived almost in
poverty. Her laboratory was
furnished by the government. but
she received no salary, and her
revenue from inventions and scien-
tific work was small.
studied Scientific Work
During her few minutes Of relaXa-
ton. Nine Curie amused herself
not by reading fiction. but by study
ing scientific works that might throw
light upon her experiments.
At such brief intervals as she was
compelled. by exhaustion. TO take a
rest. she sought refuge in a little
house in the Midi. or took her books
TO a tiny villa in Bertagne.
She was born in Warsaw. Poland.
on Nov. Z. 1867 Her scientific
daughter. Irene, already has gore
far in research. won her degree at
the Sorbonne in radio activity, In
1926. she became the wife OF DR..
Frederick Joliot. also a radioloElst.