_Radiographs._—The radiographic action of the new radio-active bodies is
very marked. However, the method of operating should be very different
with polonium and radium. Polonium acts only at very short distances,
and its action is considerably weakened by solid screens; it is
practically annihilated by means of a screen of slight thickness (1 m.m.
of glass). Radium acts at considerably greater distances. The
radiographic action of radium rays may be observed at more than 2 m.
distance in air, even when the active product is enclosed in a glass
vessel. The rays acting under these conditions belong to the β- and
γ-groups. Owing to the differences in transparency of different
materials to the rays, radiographs of different objects may be obtained,
as in the case of Röntgen rays. Metals are, as a rule, opaque, with the
exception of aluminium, which is very transparent. There is no
noteworthy difference of transparency between flesh and bone. The
operation may be carried on at a great distance and with a source of
very small dimensions; and very delicate radiographs are thus produced.
The beauty of the radiograph is enhanced by deflecting to one side the
β-rays, by means of a magnetic field, and utilising only the γ-rays. The
β-rays, in traversing the object to be radiographed, undergo a certain
amount of diffusion, and thus cause a slight fog. In suppressing them, a
longer time of exposure is necessary, but better results are obtained.
The radiograph of an object, such as a purse, requires one day with a
radiating source composed of several centigrams of a radium salt,
enclosed in a glass vessel, and placed at a distance of 1 m. from the
sensitive plate, in front of which the object is placed. If the source
is at a distance of 20 c.m. from the plate, the same result is obtained
in one hour. In the immediate vicinity of the source of radiation, a
sensitive plate is instantaneously acted upon.
_Physiological Effects._
Radium rays exert an action upon the epidermis. This has been observed
by M. Walkhoff and confirmed by M. Giesel, since also by MM. Becquerel
and Curie.
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