RADIUM NEEDLE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1933, Page 6

RADIUM NEEDLE

recovered in cindf.r heap

.. AUCKLAND. December 19. A radium needle valued at £2O, used iii the, treatment of a patient at the Auckland Hospital, was recently lost, but was subsequently recovered by the use of special apparatus from a cinder heap, in the hospital grounds. In reporting at a meeting of the hospital board, the Medical Superintendent (Dr Craven) said that the needle was one of, ten which had been inserted in a patient. There had been some, trouble .with him and . the-needles had been sewn in, . but the patient pulled them out. AEone time -six needles were missing but a search located all except one. The patient’s bed and locker were searched and he wa s also placed under X-ray examination to see if he had swallowed the needle. Finally it .-was decided to call in the assistance of the Physics Department at Auckland University College, which possessed the necessary apparatus for tracing the missing radium. Likely spots were discussed and when the apparatus was Used in proximity to the cinder heap it gave the required reaction. The cinder heap was then sifted and the needle was found. It ; had passed through the incinerator,-, but had not been damaged.