THE BECQUEREL RAYS FROM RADIUM. 



99 



PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECT. 



The physiological effect of Becquerel rays from radium is 

 most intense almost incredible. A pinch of radium salt, 

 contained in a sealed glass tube was placed in a cardboard 

 box, which was then tied to the sleeve of Professor Curie for 

 an hour and a half. An intense inflammation resulted, 

 followed by a suppurating sore which took more than three 

 months to heal. Professor Becquerel, as he went about his 

 work one day, chanced to carry a sealed glass tube of radium 

 salt in his pocket, placed there for convenience. He was 

 sorry, for the sore was painful and most tedious in healing. 

 Becquerel rays from radium will cause paralysis in mice and 

 caterpillars subjected to their action, and diluted to a suffi- 

 cient degree bid fair to exercise a decidedly curative effect 

 upon human ills. In their physiological action they re- 

 semble markedly the X-rays of Rontgen. 



ELECTRICAL EFFECTS. 



Photographic plates and electrified bodies are widely dif- 

 ferent. Yet Becquerel discov- 

 ered at about the same time <** 

 that they were both affected by 

 his rays. A photographic plate 

 was blackened; an electrified 

 body was discharged; either 

 was a detector of radio-activity. 

 With the discovery of radium, 

 the discharging effect became, 

 of course, exceedingly apparent. 

 Fig. 29 (a) is an electroscope 

 with its little gold leaves spread 

 apart by electrification. On the 

 approach of a glass tube con- 



Fig. 29 (a). 



