An historical question has come my way and I pass
it on - in case anyone here has something to share
Thanks.
From: Rare book and manuscripts [mailto:EXLIBRIS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU] On
Behalf Of Donald Kerr
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 7:43 PM
To: EXLIBRIS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Subject: [EXLIBRIS-L] Dr Hocken and radium
Dear Exlibris colleagues,
In December 1903, while preparing to return to New Zealand, book collector
Dr Thomas Morland Hocken (1836-1910) purchased one sixth of a gram of radium
for £10. What intrigues me is how Hocken, a visitor to England, secured the
radium, given its relatively new discovery by the Curies and the extreme
difficulty in isolating it. (In December 1898, the Curie's explained their
discovery in the barium fraction of another new element, which they named
"radium". Curie then set about separating the radium from the barium - an
exercise that was to prove difficult. Despite the industrial assistance the
Curies received, it took the Curies another four years to prepare one gram
of the element. To do so, they had to sift through more than seven metric
tons of pitchblende).
Can anyone clarify what the situation was about the trafficking and sale of
this element at that time. Was it available over the counter in apothecary
shops? If not, I imagine he got professional assistance from a fellow
surgeon. And how was it packaged? A vial? And was that the going rate for
the element? Hocken certainly obtained the radium in London, not Europe
(Paris). .
While this is outside the normal coverage in the list-group, perhaps a list
member knows of someone who deals in the field of history of science,
chemistry, etc. If so, could they please pass this query on. Any leads would
be appreciated.
Cheers
Donald
** please excuse cross-posting**
**
Dr. Donald Kerr, F.L.S.
Special Collections Librarian
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
Phone: (03) 479-8330
Email: donald.kerr@otago.ac.nz
**
'Happy, intense absorption in any work, which is to be brought as near to
perfection as possible, this is a state of being with God, and the men who
have not known it have missed life itself.' - D. H. Lawrence