Document 32wG763q2KBmBkNME00ap8Ra

! NTE R-O F Fl CE CORRESPONDENCE Et h y l Ga s o l i n e Co r po r a t i o n Ch r y s l e r Bu il d in g 135 Ea s t -iZ1!? St r e e t N e w Y o r k December 28, 1932, Dr, R. A. Kehoe, Dear Dr, Kehoe: Attached hereto is copy of a letter written by Mr, C. M. Rolston, Vancouver Division Manager of Imperial Oil Limited to Mr. J. McNeil in Toronto, who is their Vice President in Charge of Sales. This was transmitted to Fitz Gerald, our Division Manager in Toronto, by Mr. A. JC. Halverson, who is General Sales Manager in western Canada in accord with copy of letter also attached. Attached to this same file is copy of a letter that Mr. Boyle wrote you under date of December 14th which evidently has to do with the same accident. Mr. Halverson, we are informed, is anxious to obtain the necessary advice to answer Mr. Rolston*s letter. I don't know what we can tell him but if you wish to give an opinion on the subject and will advise us what it is we will be glad to pass same along to the Imperial Oil people. P.S. They undoubtedly mean carbon monoxide poisoning. A.E.M. K' 0011899 COPY IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED ^ TORONTO - ; December 19, 1952 Our File B-2518 Mr. J. N. Fitz Gerald, Ethyl Gasoline Corporation, .302 Bay St., TORONTO 2. Dear Mr. FitzGerald: . We attach herewith, copy of letter from Mr. C. M. Rolston, dated Dec. 12th, relative carbon di oxide poisoning from Imperial 3-Star Gasoline, which is self-explanatory. . Would appreciate if you would develop this matter direct with Mr. Rolston, sending us copies of your letters in order to keep us informed. We are also sending our Manufacturing Department a copy of Mr. Rolston*s letter with the advice that we have referred the entire matter to you. Yours very truly, IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED AEHsMR Enel- (Sgd.) A. E Halverson General Sales Manager for Western Canada. . -; * 0011900 COPY Vancouver, B.C., Dec. 12th, 1952. Mr. J. McNeil, Imperial Oxl, Ltd., TORONTO, Ont. Dear Sir: We wish to advise you in regard to the following incident which occurred recently. We received a call from Dr. Hunter, Coroner for the City of Vancouver, and he advised us that there have been several deaths in the city during the last few months from carbon dioxide poisoning, and in one death in particular he was rather confused, inasmuch as the victim in ques tion did not have the correct symptoms which point to a death caused by carbon dioxide poisoning. In discussing this matter with other doctors, the question arose that possibly carbon dioxide poisoning today showed different symptoms than it did some years ago in view of the fact that gasolines used today, in a great many cases, contain tetraethyl of lead. . The question that Dr. Hunter wishes us to answer was what type fumes would be expelled from the exhaust pipe of an automobile using gasoline containing tetraethyl of lead. We, of course, were unable to answer a question of this nature, and told him that we would take the matter up and advise him later. He informed us that it was not his intention in any way to involve any of the oil companies by handing down a. verdict in regard to any deaths from carbon dioxide poisoning as being attributed to any particular gasoline, but his enquiry was made purely and simply to find out if in cases of carbon dioxide poisoning where gasoline containing tetraethyl of lead was used, would it be necessary for him to look for symptoms other than he looked for where ordinary gasoline was used. We felt that in view of such a question arising that there would be a possibility that some doctor elsewhere In Canada might be confronted with a situation similar to this, and the question of leaded gasoline might be brought up and a verdict handed down that might possibly give averse publicity to gasoline of this nature. In view of this we thought that the circumstances should be reported to you immediately. CMR/T Yours very truly, (Sgd.) C. M. Ralston. K S ' C011901 'ri'1' V COPY Vancouver, B.C., Dec. 14, 1952 Dr. Robt. A, Kehoe, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio. - Dear Dr. Kehoe:- I have just returned from an interview with Dr. A. W. Hunter, Coroners Physician for the City of Vancouver, who had requested all the information he could get with reference to deaths occurring from carbon monoxide poisoning wherein Ethyl gasoline was concerned. The Dr. stated that at this time of the year and under present condi tions, he is called upon to perform autopsies on many cases of this kind and last week he had one particular case.wherein the appearance of the body was en tirely different from the usual appearance in cases of this kind. Examination of the blood though showed conclusively the action of carbon monoxide. The inference was made by another physician, who had discovered that the gasoline in the ear was Ethyl gasoline, that this gasoline might have had something to do with it. Dr. Hunter, however, being familiar with the action of lead; and supported by the blood analysis did not accept the inference but not knowing the makeup of lead tetraethyl, has made further inquiry about same. ' As the case in question had been known to be more or less mental with suicidal tendencies for the past two years, another young Dr. called in when the woman was found in the garage overcome apparently by gas, resucitated her and she had every indication of recovering. Heart action was strong and apparently she had nbt been too far gone. When he returned from telephoning for an ambulance she was dead. The husband reported that the woman vomited a black substance when he carried her into the house and the Dr. noticed a black smudge about the mouth. Going out into the garage he discovered an empty bottle on the floor labelled "Black Leaf Forty" . Informing Dr. Hunter of this, he made an analysis of stomach contents and urine, in both of which he found nicotine sulphate, which he thinks might have had.some bearing on the unusual appearance of the body I have given Dr. Hunter the information we have at hand on this but same is rather limited and possibly you have more and later data you could give him that would be appreciated. This question is liable to be raised oftener in view of the fact that all gasolines now being sold in B.C. with one exception, are lead treated. His addrdss is Room 1022, Medical-Dental Bldg., Vancouver, B.C. Very truly yours, (Sgd.) C. E. Boyle -O;: v.rv K 0011902 -" .-/-A . ' " O',-;.: *' V. -D. `";-