[ RadSafe ] Ra-226 tubing?

[Dan W McCarn]

Dear Rick:

Back in the day, inflammatory processes in horses (leg injuries, etc.) were
treated with a high dose-rate radium-salt pastes in Europe until the 1950s
for performance horses.  Perhaps this is a contraption that can be wrapped
around a horse's leg to give a high dose to relieve inflammation.  I see
what appear to be buckles in the pile of tubing.

Was this farm ever associated with horse racing or some other equine sport?

I recommend that you contact the oldest equine veterinary around and see
what he has to say about it.

Dan ii

--
Dan W McCarn, Geologist
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-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of
RDAlarcao at dhhs.state.nh.us
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 08:57
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Ra-226 tubing?


All,

Please see the attached PDF file (assuming the attachment goes through) of
a photo of an item that was found in an old barn in New Hampshire, USA.  It
appears to be a bundle of rubber or plastic tubing with metal clips on the
ends.  The bundle in the photo is approximately 15 cm in diameter, with a
tube thickness of approximately 0.5 cm.  The contact exposure rate is 50
mR/hr, and the isotope was identified to be Ra-226.  Does anyone know what
this might be or where it might have come from?

(See attached file: Ra-226 tubing3.pdf)

Thank you,

Rick D'Alarcao, Ph.D.
Health Physicist
Radiological Health Section
Bureau of Public Health Protection
New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services, Department of Health and
Human Services
Division of Public Health Services
29 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301-6504
Phone: (603) 271-7578
Fax: (603) 225-2325
Email: rdalarcao at dhhs.state.nh.us