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Radonite Jar (late 1920s, early 1930s) |
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The Radonite Jar is as pretty a quack cure as you are likely to find. It was designed to add radioactivity to ordinary drinking water which would be poured into the top. After some recommended time (e.g., 12 hours), the water would be infused with radioactive radon-222 that was produced by the decay of radium-226. The source of the radium-226 was a tan-colored granular material kept inside a cylindrical container (photo above left) located in the bottom half of the jar. Unfortunately, I have no literature about the Radonite jar, and the jar itself carries no indication of the manufacturer's identity. Mike Hentz, who was kind enough to contact me and provide some information, indicated that his grandfather sold these jars until 1932. That was the date when the death of Eben Byers (due to his consumption of Radithor) put a chill on the market for radium cures. Size: jar ca. 14" high, 9" diameter at widest point Exposure Rates: ca. 10 uR/hr above background at one foot from the side of the jar. References Mike Hentz personal communication. Mike also provided the source and source photo. |
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