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Federal Radium Lab Emanator (ca. 1930s) |
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| This radium emanator, produced by the Federal Radium Lab of St. Louis Missouri, appears to be nothing more than a clay flower pot with the bottom sealed. The secret ingredient is uranium ore. A fair bit of ore as a matter of fact: the exposure rate is approximately 50 uR/hr above background at one foot. This roughly translates to 5 uCi of each member of the uranium series (including radium-226). When the emanator was placed in water, radon gas produced by the decay of the radium would dissolve in the water. Although I have no literature concerning this device, the manufacturer almost certainly claimed that the radon added vitality to the water, and that drinking such radioactive water would help people get well and stay well. They might even have recommended it for plants and animals. |
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| Donated by Ed Bailey | |
