Document 0gMD39b12QwwRrBJqom3DB8Mm

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR LABORATOEIES OF THE ALANTIC CffffY HOSPITAL ATLANTIC CITY, N. J. FRANK W. KONZELMANN, M. D. Dir e c t o r o f La b o r a t o r ie s December 30, 1947 Hthel Corporation Hew York, New York Attention of Chief Chemist Gent]emen: I apologize for not knowing your name so that I might address you more formally. I am the Pathologist and Director of Laboratories of the Atlantic City Hospital, and it often becomes my duty to ex amine the bodies of individuals found dead or dying within auto mobiles. Heretofore, many of these deaths have been ascribed to carbon monoxide, in t'.vo cases recently we were unable to re veal carbon monoxide in the blood or in the tissues after death; and it has become apparent these two cases died of asphyxia from lack of oxygen or accumulation of carbon dioxide. One of these cases has shown a beginning inf lamination of the lungs, trachea, and bronchi -which at the present time I do not believe could be produced by simple asphyxia or carbon dioxide accumulation. I have wondered whether there are any of the toxic products, primarily in gasolines fortified by tetra-ethel lead, which could cause such a reaction. If you would be good enough to direct me to the source of any investigations that have been carried on in this sublect, I would be most grateful. They appear not to have been reported in current medical literature, and I presume if there are any they 'would have been reported in one of the chemical Journals. I of course do not intend, to use any information you may give me for publication 'without your permission, especially if yon offer me information which might be considered as confidential. I am Verv truly yours. F7K: sell N13966 i/ Frank '7. Konzelmann, II.D. s