RADIUM

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 24

RADIUM

GIFT TO MADAME CURIE. PARIS, July 3. Ma/dame Curie has returned with «a gramme of radium, which was presented to her by women. She was guarded by detectives on the voyage and in the train to Paris. Madame Curie is in ill-health owing to her long manipul v tion of radium. This gift enables French scientists to undertake a whole series of new researches. Madame Marie Curie, the eminent French scientist, received from the hand of President Harding recently the gramme of radium purchased for her by United States womfn in the interest of human taiian research. The presentation cere monies took place in May in the White House in the presence of a notable group of United States and diplomatic omciais and leaders of science and philanthropy. M. Jules Jusserand, French Ambassador, formally- introduced Madame Curie, and she responded to the President’s fresentation address with a little speech of thanks, delivered in broken English. In

handing over tile iittle phial with its precious contents, Mr Harding declared it represented in small part the gratitude of the country to its distinguished guest for the years of effort which culminated in the discovery of radium. He took occasion also to reaffirm the friendship of the United States people for I*ranee and for Poland, the land of Madame Curie’s birth. Giving thanks for the gift in the name of the Government, M. Jusserand said the occasion was one of the many manifestations of the generosity of a people who always are watching fo-r an opportunity to do good.” Madame Curie’s speech of thanks consisted of only a few sentence telling of her gratitude and her regard for the United States. CURING CANCER. LONDON, July i. Pathetic scenes were witnessed in the West London Hospital, where the authorities recently announced the successful treatment of cancer. The hospital was bombarded with letters and telephone and telegraphic messages. Sufferers are arriv ing from all parts of the country. Only a single installation for the curative treatment is available, and it is booked for every hour for months ahead. [A new X-ray apparatus, the invention of Bavarian radiologists, was recently installed at the West Loudon Hospital. The claim made that it is able to cure at least 80 per cent, of oases of cancer. The hospital authorities are enthusiastic, but one medical man issued a word of warning, pointing out that the work is in the extrerimental stage.]