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FOREIGN TRADE BUREAU OF THE PHILADELPHIA COMMERCIAL MUSEUM
Translation Department.
Language
French
Translated by
FW
No. Words 531
From Faculte 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 "Academie 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 mamifacturers 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
(Societe 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 mamufactured 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 accumu-
late. The installations of radio-active solutions under funnels with a
good draught.
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"ocrText": "COPY\nFOREIGN TRADE BUREAU OF THE PHILADELPHIA COMMERCIAL MUSEUM\nTranslation Department.\nLanguage\nFrench\nTranslated by\nFW\nNo. Words 531\nFrom Faculte des Sciences de Paris\n-\nParis, 1 Rue Pierre-Curie\nAddressed to\nWelsbach Company\nDate (of original) 5/29/25\nGentlemen:\nAttention of Mr. Milner.\n(Introductory\nParagraphs)\nThere was in fact a discussion at the \"Academie de Medecine\"\non the industry of the radio-elements. The Establishments who handle\nthis manufacture at the present time are, it is true, very numerous,\nbut the death of two engineers employed in one of the Establishments,\nhas shown, that it is necessary to advise the mamifacturers as well as\nthe Engineers of the danger. I can tell you, however, as a private in-\nformation that the two accidents in question were caused by a defective\ninstallation of the Service; the latter consisted in the frequent se-\nparation of the Thorium X formed in very concentrated radio thorium\nsolutions, which were themselves separated from strong mesothorium\npreparations. These operations took place in a small room without any\naeration and without any protecting screens. The intoxication was pro-\nbably due for a part to the penetrating rays, but for the greater part\nperhaps to the emanation of thorium which liberated itself freely\nin the room, and that constantly.\nThus as you see the factory in question handles especially\nthe preparation of the X thorium. The latter is enclosed in a solution\nin ampules which were regularly distributed for medical use, in\na Hospital Service, especially in the case of arthritis. The same use\nthereof is also made in the Institute of Dr. Lazarus at Berlin. The\nfactory in question did not prepare its mesothorium itself, but purchased\nthe same at the Thorium and Mesothorium factory which exists at Paris\n(Societe Franco-Bresilienne) with whom you are in business relations.\nI do not know of any serious accidents due to Radium or Meso-\nthorium among the staff of the factories who mamufactured these bodies\nin France, (besides they are not manufacturing any at the present time), neither\namong the staff of my institution. That is due, without doubt, to the\nfact, that the premises are generally very airy, and that some precau-\ntions are used in the handling of concentrated products. I believe,\nhowever, that it is good to grant to this question quite a special at-\ntention. The principal precautions are the following:\n1. Aeration of the premises, where the emanations must not accumu-\nlate. The installations of radio-active solutions under funnels with a\ngood draught."
}