1912} General 509 



therapeutics is so great, and their nature so varied and complex, 

 that the most which the members of the Council could accomplish 

 by personal research would be inadequate to improve the Situation 

 seriously. The Committee therefore judged that it would be most 

 useful by supporting and facilitating such researches. ... In prac- 

 tica, the Council aims to select the lines which appear most promis- 

 ing; to interest competent investigators to take charge of these 

 lines ; and to render to them such assistance as it can. ... In the 

 selection of problems, emphasis will be laid mainly on their feasi- 

 bility and practical importance. All who are intcrested are invitcd 

 to siihmit suggcstions along these lines. . . . The Committee 

 realizes that it has undertaken a very large task, the outcome of 

 which depends on the Cooperation which it can enlist, rather than 

 on its personal endeavors. On the whole, the task is a hopeful one, 

 provided that one does not demand immediate or startling returns. 

 I shall not be disappointed so long as the Committee engages the 

 active and continuous interest of even a single competent investi- 

 gator. . . . Suggestions, applications and other Communications 

 to the Committee should be addressed to its Secretary, Prof. W. 

 A. Puckner, 535 Dearborn Ave., Chicago. (Sollman: Journal of 

 the 'American Medical Association, 19 12, Iviii, p. 1390.) 



Practical monopoly of the sale of radium. An official report 

 announces that the Austrian government has bought up all the 

 mines of Joachimsthal (Bohemia), where radium is present. Ex- 

 tensive investigations by experts have shown that it will be possible 

 to obtain per year from these mines at least a ton of uranium ore, 

 equivalent to 3 grams of radium, valued at $240,000. Together 

 with the production of the other State mines, the yearly output of 

 this precious substance will amount to about 5 grams. Austria will 

 thus practically monopolize the sale of radium, for the mines in 

 California, in Spain and in Saxony cannot compete with the Aus- 

 trian. The bulk of the A^ear's output will be handed over to the 

 Radium Institute in Vienna, which will use it for extensive experi- 

 ments. A large quantity will be disposed of to hospitals, and the 

 surgical clinics in Vienna will soon have the largest quantities 

 possessed by any charitable Institution in the world. Small quan- 

 tities will be sold to physicians and scientists. The mines were 



