"The radiations from uranium are analogous, as regards their photographic and electrical actions, to [[w:X-ray|Röntgen rays], but compared with the rays from an ordinary X ray tube, these actions are extremely feeble. While with Röntgen rays a strong impression is produced on a photographic plate in a few minutes or even seconds, several days' exposure to the uranium rays is required to produce a well-marked action, even though the uranium compound, enveloped in black paper, is placed close to the plate. The discharging action, while very easily measurable by suitable methods, is also small compared with that produced by X rays from an ordinary tube."
January 1, 1970
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Radio-activity