BIG RADIUM PURJHASE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14854, 20 December 1913, Page 16

BIG RADIUM PURJHASE.

TWO GRAMMES FOR £60,000. What is described as the biggest sale of radium that has yet taken place in the world was lately completed, the purchasers being the Radio-Active Oxygen Institute, London. The institute bought 2000 milligrammes (two grammes) of tho precious metal from Mr Paul Samter, of Paris, tho value being over £60,000. The certificate of purchase is an interesting document, and is to the following effect: "This is to certify that Mr E. A. Wallis. medical director of the London Radio - Active Oxygen Institute, has purchased 2000 milligrammes of radium, produced under the supervision of Mme. Curie, and has the entire control of the sale of same until December 31st, 1914, in tho British Empire." Tho purchase is all the moro interesting, remarks a London paper, when it is remembered that tho total amount oT radium in the world is only about six or seven grammes. The radium is to bo used for curative purposes. Mr Wallis stated: "The purchase is of great national importance, ensuring to England a large amount of radium for the treatment of disease. The purchase has actually cut out other countries. The output from the factory under Madame Curie's supervision is of the highest purity, and every.milligramme is guaranteed by Madame Curie herself. This great and important purchase will be utilised for the treatment of cancers, tumours, rodent ulcers, and other malignant diseases, also for the preparation of radium water on a largo scale, and for the treatment and cure of a large number of hitherto incurable diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism, gout, neuritis, sciatica, and many nervous and other functional diseases. The method of treatment of malignant diseases is by the scientific application of tho rays to the growth, which destroys the malignant cells. The treatment for functional diseases is by the emanation or gas which is given off by the rays."

Mr Wallis also mentioned that many thousand tons of pitchblende had to bo treated for tho production of an infinitesimal quantity of radium, and that tho output of radium in 1912 was more than could be expected this year or in 1914, while tho need for radium was at least 500 times greater than it was last year. .