Letters Received, May 9, 1925

COPY FOREIGH TRADE BUREAU OF THE PHILADELPHIA COMMERCIAL MUSEUM Translation Department. Language French Translated by FW No. Words 531 From Faculté des Sciences de Paris - Paris, 1 Rue Pierre-Curie Addressed to Welsbach Company Date (of original) 5/29/25 Gentlemen: Attention of Mr. Milner. * * (Introductory Paragraphs) * * * * * * * * * * There was in fact a discussion at the "Académie de Medecine" on the industry of the radio-elements. The Establishments who handle this manufacture at the present time are, it is true, very numerous, but the death of two engineers employed in one of the Establishments, has shown, that it is necessary to advise the mamufacturers as well as the Engineers of the danger. I can tell you, however, as a private in- formation that the two accidents in question were caused by a defective installation of the Service; the latter consisted in the frequent se- paration of the Thorium X formed in very concentrated radio thorium solutions, which were themselves separated from strong mesothorium preparations. These operations took place in a small room without any aeration and without any protecting screens. The intoxication was pro- bably due for a part to the penetrating rays, but for the greater part perhaps to the emanation of thorium which liberated itself freely in the room, and that constantly. Thus as you see the factory in question handles especially the preparation of the X thorium. The latter is enclosed in a solution in ampules which were regularly distributed for medical use, in a Hospital Service, especially in the case of arthritis. The same use thereof is also made in the Institute of Dr. Lazarus at Berlin. The factory in question did not prepare its mesothorium itself, but purchased the same at the Thorium and Mesothorium factory which exists at Paris (Société Franco-Bresilienne) with whom you are in business relations. I do not know of any serious accidents due to Radium or Meso- thorium among the staff of the factories who mamfactured these bodies in France, (besides they are not manufacturing any at the present time), , neither among the staff of my institution. that is due, without doubt, to the fact, that the premises are generally very airy, and that some precau- tions are used in the handling of concentrated products. I believe, however, that it is good to grant to this question quite a special at- tention. The principal precautions are the following: 1. Aeration of the premises, where the emanations must not accunu- late. The installations of radio-active solutions under funnels with a good draught.