Evening star., 1937-12-02

the same combinations at the same rates
But they emit powerful radiations
which can be recorded and counted by
delicate instruments. Hence they can
be followed In their progress through
BODY tissues. The physiologist can tell
what has happened to them after they
nave gone through the process of diges-
ton. Where do they turn up? How
long does it take them to get there?
significant report to the National
Academy is by Drs. 8. F. Cook, K. G.
Scott and P. Abelson of the University
OF California Medical School. They
mixed radioactive phosphorus in the
food Of chickens. This element Is par
tlcularly abundant in bone and brain.
AT one time 1t was much footed as a
brain food" because so much of it
eventually found its way into the cere-
bral tissues.
The California doctors fed the radio
active phosphorus to chickens. Some
OF the birds we're killed at the end of
Tour days and most of the organs of
their bodies were tested with ray count
ers' to find out what had become of the
element It was found rather generally
distributed through the body at this
time, although approximately 80 per cent
OF 1t already was deposited in the bones.
Tne other chickens were killed at the
END OF two months and some striking
changes in this distribution were noted.
Then more than 10 per cent of the ele-
ment was concentrated in the bone and
the amounts which had found their way
TO the brain and spleen were much
higher. The amount in muscle and
other tissue was correspondingly less.
The other report is on the distribution
OF radioactive sodium given to human
beings, In some cases as a treatment for
leukemla. Most Of the sodium In the
body Is contained in the blood and
lymph. Hence it is pretty well distrib-
uted throughout the organism.
The radiation counters showed that
the distribution was quite rapid. The
absorption OF the sodium, it was shown
began within q few minutes after the
material was administered and is appar-
emily completed within from three to ten
hours.
Two hitherto unknown minerals-pre-
sumably among the rarest constituents
Of the earth's surface rocks-have Just
been described from the collections Of
the Smithsonian Institution.
They appear as nchen-like, greenish
growths on rock specimens brought back
from Chile by Mark G. Bandy, who con-
Quoted 4 joint Harvard Smithsonian
expedition in 1885. The first of these
minerals has been named antofagastite,
after the Chilean district in which it was
found, by Drs. Charles Palache of Har-
ward and w. r. Foshag OF the National
Museum. OF it combination Of chlo-
rine and copper which forms mould-hke
splotches on rocks. Curiously enough,
it is q combination often made in chem
ical laboratories, but its existence in
nature had not been suspected. It dis
solves completely in water. forming
beautiful pale blue solution. 1t colors
fame green.
The second new mineral was named
bandylite, after its discoverer. It is
undoubtedly one Of the rarest substances
in nature, occurring in button-like crys-
tai formations seldom over q centimeter
in diameter. The mineral Il deep blue
in color, with q suggestion Of greentsh
fIuorescence. It Is combination OF
boron, chlorine and copper, OF type
never before represented in minerals.
Before blowpipe 1t colors flame green.
Il cannot be completely dissolved n
water, but Ia ammonium hydroMds It
Yields an intense blue solution.