Radium Poisoning Inherited?

Five New Jersey women who one year ago believed that today they would be dead, were still alive last week but uncomfortable at the imminence of death. They are suffering from radium poisoning contracted while painting luminous watch dials for the U. S. Radium Corp. (TIME, June 4, 1928 et seq). The company, after law suits, gave each woman $10,000 and expenses.

Last week the damage suit of another onetime employe against the company was about to reach trial. Mrs. Ethelwynne Metz of Newark claimed $200,000 personal damages. Her husband wanted $50,000 for loss of her services. Moreover, Mrs. Metz's doctor, Ames Lawrence Filiponne of Newark, last week stated that Edward Metz, 6, born after Mrs. Metz had worked for U. S. Radium Corp., was also suffering from the same poison, acquired in utero. The child's affliction, if proved, promised to raise fine medico-legal points. Is he the victim of industrial hazard? Can a concern be held liable for the ills of its employees' descendants?