Purple Glass Radium Vial
notes: label: Description
content: This test tube was removed from a display of objects (see 1993.0262.13) donated to the New York Academy of Medicine by Dr. Robert Abbe [b. April 13, 1851; d. March 7, 1928], a surgeon and early proponent of radium therapy. Abbe described this and a similar test tube (1993.0262.14) in the display as, "Amethyst colored glass tubes caused by holding RADIUM and due to oxidization of the manganese in the glass." These tubes were likely clear to begin with. To produce "colorless" glass, manufacturers often added manganese dioxide, which reacted with iron impurities in the sand used to make the glass. This oxidation of iron can be reversed with radiation, returning the manganese to the oxidized state, which will tint glass purple.
label: Description
content: In 1903, Dr. Abbe started experimenting with radium on seeds, animals, himself, and patients, becoming one of the first American physicians to do so. He found success in treating some abnormal growths and cancers, publishing his findings and becoming an authority in the field of radiotherapy. Abbe was a surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital in New York. Near the end of his life, Abbe suffered from the effects of aplastic anemia, likely caused by years of radium exposure, requiring regular blood transfusions.
label: Description
content: Abbe, R., “Radium and Radio-Activity," Yale Medical Journal 10 (1904) p. 436-447.
label: Description
content: Gibson, C., "Robert Abbe 1851-1928," Annals of Surgery 88 (1928) p. 794-797.
label: Description
content: Stark, R., "Robert Abbe: Pioneer in Plastic Surgery," Bull. N. Y. Acad. Med. 31 (1955) p. 927-950.
label: Description
content: Solarized Glass, Corning Museum of Glass (web) https://www.cmog.org/article/solarized-glass
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Pharmacy
label: See more items in
content: Cancer
label: See more items in
content: Cancer: Treatment
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of New York Academy of Medicine, through Steven A. Pelovitz, Vice President for Management and Fiscal Affairs
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1993.0262.15
label: catalog number
content: 1993.0262.15
label: accession number
content: 1993.0262
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Vial
label: Other Terms
content: Vial; Container; Vial
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: estimated from images: 1 13/16 in x 11/32 in; 4.572 cm x .8382 cm