[Earl Boebert]

Heard a lecture some years ago by a physical chemist who collected radioactive quack stuff (after removing the emitting source) and other stuff that was used before people really understood ionizing radiation. For example, the orange glaze used by Fiesta ware in the 30's and 40's contained uranium, enough so you can take an x-ray of your hand using an orange dinner plate as a source.

Anyhow, in the 70's he'd go around to antique stores with a sensitive radiation counter looking for hot stuff. He said he parked in front of one place in Connecticut and turned on his counter while still in his car, and it pegged. He went inside and discovered a quack 5-gallon ceramic water jug with a substantial slab of radium in the bottom. The guy that owned the store was pretty upset when a crew in hazmat suits showed up with a lead bucket and long tongs. The chemist said that the Good Lord only knows how many people that jug had killed. Right up there with the xray machines in shoe stores that zapped kids' feet in the 50's (mine included).

Cheers,

Earl