RADIO-ACTIVE?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 9

RADIO-ACTIVE?

(To the Editor. "N.Z. Times.") Sir,—l noticed in your paper a few days ago a suggestion that the curative properties of mineral waters might be due to radium. Now, while I do not consider it proved that mineral waters really do effect cures, I am quite sure their composition, as shown by chemical analysis, has nothing to do with it. The most powerful bath at Eotorua, the "Priests’." It contains sulphuric acid, but only about 1 in 3000. It is so weak it does not affect the most delicate mucous membranes. I swam about in it. and could not detect the least irritation of the eyes, tongue or lips, yet the whole of my shoulders became scarlet. Now, if you believe this was due (as the doctors eay) to the sulphuric acid, you have only to put 30 gallons of warm water into any bath, add about 1J ounces of sulphuric acid, and bathe. Anyhow, I was very incredulous, and by the merest chance came on a clue that impressed me immensely. An attendant directed me to strike a match over the water. This I did, and naturely suspecting some trick, took care to do eb when nobodv was near me. I had just left the water, and it was by no means quite still. When I lit the match, tiny bubbles of gas were at once disengaged and rose to the surface. This may not sound very wonderful to everyone, but I am sure anyone who had been accustomed to laboratory work would have been as much startled as I was. Here was a distinct visible physical effect producible at will. By what agency ? This happened in 1835, when radium was unknown. I was then convinced that there was something in the 'water sensitive to certain rays emitted by the match. Since then, thousands must have seen the experiment. Has any reasonable conjecture been made as to the cause? It is of course qonceivable that it was an ingenious hoax, I am. etc., WAIMMA. Oct. 25.