Document 2Jny4J174MOk8JLYxXm3a98L

^MUTpAI^CHEMICAL COMPANY OF AMERICA - 270 MADISON AVENUE -^ | NEW YORK 16, N. Y. PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT * CgimOTIAL August 2, 1951 ; Mr. John Sargent, Ooscutive Vice Preaidant DlABOad < rrrepnny 300 Union Ccunsrce Building Cleveland 14? Cfaio Dmt Jaekt With reference to Ur. Lansas letter of our industry*a Hygiene Comittee, copy Codes, I want to give you a little which Or* Lansa. attended and at whip job for tbs industry* sent to the Washington on, he did an outstanding As you probably know. Or known to you and Dr* fiuaper of the national Cancer the preparation of o Repcs-t setting forth their f in sons cases, their opinions concerning the effects ite dusts. This Report, before publication of course. Miller, Bead of tbs Dirlsicn of Industrial Hygiene of Serrioe who discussed it infernally with Or* Lansa and a copy with s view to obtaining Dr* Lonsa's ____ ipert caused Dr. Lansa to taka srosp- tion to each , as a result of which he, Mr* Waters (who is counsel of the legal ocnittee of the Industrial Hygiene r president, Mr* Terr and I got together fer the purpose of could be done about the Report as ve all fait that l^ftit vsis if it appeared as written under the nones of the authors, each prasinent public official, it could give rise to serious and considerable danage could be oansed* As a result of the nesting it was decided that Dr. Lansa, who was famerly with tbs U*8*P*H*8* and who is veil known to nmy of tbs Public Health officials, should sndesvor to arrange a sating with the Surgeon General for the psrpoee of sseertslnlag what eould be done In the clrmnertsnnes* Dr* lanaa*s letter briefly and too nodestly reperte the result ant interview with Dr* flaheele end ethers. Be also talla ae, acnfidsetlslly, that while tha federal officials base bo Jerladiatlntf over Hrarago it la quite likely that If the Report is printed in its neat fan it will Mlthar have the --Irrs--nt. of flr. Beeper nor the Satlonal Caaoer Inetitute which be CHEMICAL COMPANY OF AMERICA - 270 MADISON AVENUE - NEW YORK 16, N. Y. -2 - I shnl 1 cert attenpt to describe the Report cs I assuae those in your ccapany who have been varising with Or. ] laneuso are fnailiar with its contents. It practically says that naay cnmnii ailacnts cf qlr passages of bead, bronchus and chest ore aggravated and caused by exposure to chraaete dusts which presunahly mans that clalaa could be riled by varksrs suffering fra* citrus, rhinitis, etc., etc. but probably not hang nail or housemaid *s knoo. Of course the segaent or' the legal profession which specialises in hnndl ing such clains would have available an official document which would seen to give incontrovertible cuppart to their client*s clains. Obviously if the Report doos not bear the endersaaent a-' the national Cancer Institute, then the industry, when fajt^xl with possible clains supported by !!ancuso*s findings, can truthfull^'l state such endorcoment was withheld because the federal Authorities did; ^.ot agree with the Report and their pocition would be strengthened. jj I an writing you because of conversations I have had Vi^h^ycu and Ray Evans about this general subject and wont you toj^ve thee bacl^b^nd, which I hope gives more significance to Dr. lnio^a^ettar. Dr. Lansa thinks that it is iapcrtSnzb hold synocting with mei-ibcrs of the industry far the purpose of discusslzg vartdi yi probloas related to this general subject and I have eis:oura^a\hi^y: call one in October. I know it will be interesting and help give you uind possibly Ray Evans, if you can attend, an opportunity tci artTHDr^ LanaJ\h*, Waters and obtain at first hand their views concerning th^probl^n/iji relhxy in to the federal Public Koaith Authorities and the general public\\ Sincerely yours. GIB ilu ce: Dr. A. J. LonsaJ Hr. 0. F. Tait Hr. U. W. Cooke Mr. Ub. Rural* Mr. A. E. Van Wirt George A. Bonington President I I MUTUAL CHEMICAL COMPANY OF AMERICA - 270 MADISON AVENUE - NEW YORK 16, N. Y. CONFIDENTIAL August 2, 1951 Mr. John Sargent, Executive Vice President Diamond Alkali Company 300 Union Commerce Building Cleveland 14, Ohio Dear Jack: With reference to Dr. Lanza's letter of July 31, addressed to members of our industry's Hygiene Committee, copy of which was sent to your Mr. W. W. Cooke, I want to give you a little background of the Washington meeting which Dr. Lanza attended and at which, in my opinion, he did an outstanding job for the industry. As you probably know. Dr. Mancuso who is well known to you and Dr. Hueper of the National Cancer Institute collaborated in the preparation of a Report setting forth their findings and unfortunately, in some cases, their opinions concerning the effects of exposure to chromate dusts. This Report, before publication of course, was submitted to Dr. Miller, Head of the Division of Industrial Hygiene of the Public Health Service who discussed it informally with Dr. Lanza and agreed to give Dr. Lanza a copy with a view to obtaining Dr. Lanza's opinion. Perusal of the Report caused Dr. Lanza to take exception to much of its contents, as a result of which he, Mr. Waters (who is counsel for us as well as Chairman of the legal committee of the Industrial Hygiene Foundation, our vice president, Mr. Tarr and I got together for the purpose of discussing what could be done about the Report as we all felt that if it were not amended and if it appeared as written under the names of the authors, each of whom is a prominent public official, it could give rise to serious misunderstanding and considerable damage could be caused. As a result of the meeting it was decided that Dr. Lanza, who was formerly with the U.S.P.H.S. and who is well known to many of the Public Health officials, should endeavor to arrange a meeting with the Surgeon General for the purpose of ascertaining what could be done in the circumstances. Dr. Lanza's letter briefly and too modestly reports the resultant interview with Dr. Scheele and others. He also tells me, confidentially, that while the Federal officials have no jurisdiction over Mancuso it is quite likely that if the Report is printed in its present form it will neither have the endorsement of Dr. Hueper nor the National Cancer Institute which he represents. MUTUAL CHEMICAL COMPANY OF AMERICA - 270 MADISON AVENUE - NEW YORK 16, N. Y. -2- I shall not attempt to describe the Report as I assume those in your company who have been working with Dr. Mancuso are familiar with its contents. It practically says that many common ailments of air passages of head, bronchus and chest are aggravated and caused by exposure to chromate dusts which presumably means that claims could be filed by workers suffering from sinus, rhinitis, etc., etc. but probably not hang-nail or housemaid's knee, of course the segment of the legal profession which specializes in handling such claims would have available an official document which would seem to give incontrovertible support to their client's claims. Obviously if the Report does not bear the endorsement of the National Cancer institute, then the industry, when faced with possible claims supported by Mancuso's findings, can truthfully state such endorsement was withheld because the Federal Authorities did not agree with the Report and their position would be strengthened. I am writing you because of conversations I have had with you and Ray Evans about this general subject and want you to have the background, which I hope gives more significance to Dr. Lanza's letter. Dr. Lanza thinks that it is important to hold a meeting with members of the industry for the purpose of discussing various problems related to this general subject and I have encouraged him to call one in October, I know it will be interesting and help give you and possibly Ray Evans, if you can attend, an opportunity to meet Dr. Lanza, Mr. Waters and obtain at first hand their views concerning the problem in relation to the Federal Public Health Authorities and the general public. Sincerely yours, MUTUAL CHEMICAL CO. OF AMERICA GAB:lr cc: Dr. A.J. Lanza Mr. O.F. Tarr Mr. W.W. Cooke Mr. Wm. Rurode Mr. A. E. Van Wirt George A. Benington President