A Healthy Glow With Radium

When Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium in 1898, they did not only open a new chapter in the history of physics and chemistry, they also opened a new chapter in the big book of quackery, miracle cures and snake-oil. The strange new element naturally intrigued high-ranking scientists, but it also baffled ordinary people who otherwise had no interest in science: radium caused a proper sensation. The approaching century was already heralded as a new epoch of scientific progress, and the mysterious glowing substance fitted that bill perfectly. While most scientists remained cautious as to a scientific explanation, doctors and miracle workers were quick to praise the qualities of radium: if it glows its gotta be good for you.

Miracle cures was nothing new. The idea that certain springs held miraculous healing power had been around for thousands of years, and the ill and infirm journeyed long distances seeking cures at the waters of Bath in England, Badgastein in Austria, and countless other locations. A few years after the discovery of radium, it was found that many famous springs also were radioactive (emitting what we now call radon gas), and that this radioactivity was produced by radium in the ground through which the waters flowed. This circumstantial evidence seemed to confirm the ‘theory’ that radium truly was a miracle substance.

Adding to the growing faith in radium healing were firm statements from people who should have known better. In 1910 the American Surgeon General Dr. George H. Torney wrote that “Relief may be reasonably expected at the Hot Springs in . . . various forms of gout and rheumatism, neuralgia; metallic or malarial poisoning, chronic Brights disease, gastric dyspepsia, chronic diarrhea, chronic skin lesions, etc.” Further details were provided by Dr. C.G. Davis, who noted in the American Journal of Clinical Medicine that “Radioactivity prevents insanity, rouses noble emotions, retards old age, and creates a splendid youthful joyous life.”

With such notable scholars supporting radium cures people went into radium hysteria. Health spas, and the resorts associated with them, saw a booming business and their names were often changed to include the magic terms ‘radioactive’ or ‘radium’. Radon was believed to be so important to water that it was considered its life element. Radon was to water what oxygen was to air. Without it, water was dead.

The main problem with water from the radioactive spas was that the miraculous radon (the radioactive gas responsible for the radioactivity) quickly escaped, or decayed, leaving the spring water no more radioactive than (normal) tap water. This represented a bit of a problem for thrifty businessmen bend on supplying radon-water to the poor and infirm who could not afford travelling to the springs.

However, as people realized that radon gas was a natural product from the decay of radium, they came up with a practical solution: the radioactive water crock. By mixing the clay with radium potters could produce a small manmade ‘spring’ that ‘invigorated’ whatever liquid it contained. Soon the market was flooded with various radioactive pots, jars, jugs and containers.

The next step was straightforward. If radon gave life to water it would surely do the same to any other substance, so during the 1920s and 1930s radium-containing salves, beauty creams, ear plugs, chocolate bars, soap, suppositories, and even contraceptives became available in shops and pharmacies. During the Second World War, a German company named Auergesellschaft even made radioactive toothpaste (radon was thought to fight dental decay and improve the digestion). According to Auergesellschaft their Doramed toothpaste worked as follows:

“Its radioactive radiation increases the defenses of teeth and gums. The cells are loaded with new life energy, the bacteria are hindered in their destroying effect. This explains the excellent prophylaxis and healing process with gingival diseases. It gently polishes the dental enamel so it turns white and shiny. Prevents dental calculus. Wonderful lather and a new, pleasant, mild and refreshing taste. Can be applied sparingly.”

There were few ailments radium/radon couldn’t cure. The Radiendocrinator, for example, was made from refined radium, encased in 14-carat gold, and the unfortunate user was informed to “Wear the adaptor like any athletic strap. This puts the instrument under the scrotum as it should be. Wear at night. Radiate as directed.” I expect most readers can imagine the resulting fertility count.

At the same time people were buying radium health products, dial-painters (mostly young women) at the U.S. Radium Corporation’s factory in New Jersey began to die from radium poisoning (used to make glow-in-the-dark watches and instruments). The women, who had been told the paint was harmless, ingested deadly amounts of radium by licking their paintbrushes to sharpen them.

During the 30s ordinary people using the health products also began to feel their ill effects (some even died), and by the late 1940s radioactive health products had lost their luster (the Cold War nuclear threat also caused a shift in the perception of radioactivity), even if some remained on sale in more dubious health shops. By the late 70s most countries had banned radioactive products altogether, and the era of radioactive miracle cures was finally over.

Despite legislation and public awareness about the dangers of radioactivity, the lure of radium has not disappeared completely. Occasionally a new radium health-product hits the market, in particular in the Far East, and radioactive caves and springs still do a decent business. Perhaps this could help solve our problem with radioactive waste from nuclear power plants: simply incorporate it into consumer products and export it around the world. Dilute and disperse.