453 



Radioactivity of Spring Water. 



R. R. Ramsey. 



Since the discovery of the Becqerel rays in 1896 by Henri Becqerel 

 a great amount of work has been done on radioactive bodies; i. e., bodies 

 which give out a radiation which, among other things, renders the air con- 

 ducting. Madam Curie discovered polonium and radium in 1898. After the 

 discovery of radium a great many workers contributed to our knowledge of 

 radioactive bodies. Radium and polonium are now known to be transforma- 

 tion products in the radioactive series headed by uranium. Besides the 

 uranium-radium series we have the thorium series, the actinium series, and 

 the potassium series in the radioactive list. 



Very early in the history of radioactivity, tests were made on ordinary 

 matter to see if all matter is radioactive. Although there is some evidence 

 to show that all matter is radioactive, i.e., is disintegrating, it has been found 

 that a great part of the effect is due to slight traces of radium and other 

 radioactive substances which are mixed with matter. Thus the surface of 

 the earth is covered with slight traces of radium. The exact distribution 

 of radium on the surface of the earth is not known, determinations having 

 been made in a relatively few localities. Besides the scientific interest in 

 the distribution of radium there is another. It has been found that a great 

 many of the celebrated European springs and baths show an unusual amount 

 of radioactivity. The theory has been advanced that the curative proper- 

 ties of these springs are due to the radioactivity of the water. 



Table I gives a partial list of the measurements made on noted springs 

 also a short list of ordinary springs, etc. 



