Document 42o8KeZR2JOVB9QznpX4kg31

ROM O -OJ EC1 B. J. Moore Philadelphia 0. X. Clle Pittsburgh ALLEGED LEAD POiacmEO CASE: fOIg, 7A. TERMIHAL ________PEE FEEEBB MAT 18, 1$ CPBjAHIN REPLY RiFER TO OAT 5 5-24-1A Confirming our telephone conversation this morning with Mr. G. T. Ryan and Mr. H. J. Smith: Ve attach a report In duplicate and copies of correspondence which we have prepared and sent to the Travelers Lasur^ray^^n connect ion with the alleged lead poisoning case involving HP!a Con struction Department employee temporarily assigned to cleaning tanks at the Norfolk, 7a. Terminal. On April 11th, Jft*. assisted hy Mr. Boht. Alvins, Joseph Schwarts, Gregory Kenptoa, A. Rutledge, L. James and S. Wheat (the latter of whom is no longer with Gulf and his address unknown) started to clean Tank #111, a 25,000 barrel tank containing Aviation Gasoline. This tank was finished oh April 19th, and on April 20th, the same crew started to clean Tank #110, same size, and also containing Aviation Gasoline. This tank was completed on April 28th and the same crew started to clean the slop oil tank #122, j a 5,000 barrel tank, and were aaslgaed to this work from Jfey 1st to May 12th inclusive. After finishing this work, to the best of our knowledge, showed no sigojs of lead poisoning or illness of any nature; however, he was apparently not! feeling up to par and, on Wednesday, Jfay 17th, came to Philadelphia to his residence 1710 Wingohocking St., where he was confined with what was thought to be the Grippe, being under the care of Dr. D. 3 Seller, 7330 Ogontz Are., Philadelphia. Late Sunday afternoon. May 21st, he became more seriously ill and Dr, Seller recaanen&ed thatl^be taken to the Jewish Hospital, Broad St. 81 Tabor Bd., Philadelphia. IHKvas immediately placed in an oxygen tent when he arrived at the Jewish Hospital and, from. what we understand, his 0audition was diagaosed as Pneumonia. La>te Tuesday afternoon he became delirious and completely out of his mind and as the Jewish Hospital was not equipped to handle such cases, he was taken to the Philadelphia General Hospital, 34th St. & Curie Ave., Philade'lphia, where he remains at present, under the care of Dr. Truman G. Schnabelle, who bears an excellent reputation, and who is watching the case very closely, This morning. May 24th, Wolff, Superintendent of Con- struotlan, received a call from Mrs. ^Vvtatlng that she had 4ust re- celved a call fram the hospital informing her that in taking blood tests found tr ea of lead poisoning and they suggested that she contact Mr. ?lo;iyer. W^have been unable to learn the name of the interne or 5tor who gaye this information. 2 This a8 the first knowledge we had of any alleged lead poisoning "being the cause &Mg illness, and ve immediately called Mr. G. T. Byan and Mr. E. J. Smith m the telephone for proper guidance in the handling of the case. Bariagttheir authority, we immediately contacted Dr. George ?. Bouse, Jr., 2031 iust St., Philadelphia and requested that he secure "blood samples to detente the lead content "blood stream. This was handled In this anmer "because Walker is dangerously ill and "believed to have only a shorttime to live. The telephone circuit to Cincinnati was busy and it was si possible to get an immediate call thrjj to Dr. Kehoe, Dr. Bouse is assoclaftd with the Travelers Insurance Co. and is connected with the PresbyterianBspital as well as the Philadelphia General Hospital. Hi addition to this experience, he has also handled several other cases of lead poisoning for us. | Afteeour arrangement with Dr. Bouse was completed, we were able to get & wire thsato Cincinnati and talked to Dr. Bobert A. Kehoe, who agreed that underthe circumstances, we handled the situation satisfactorily and he in turn waigoing to talk with Dr. Bouse to see if it were practical to get two sets t blood samples, the first to be tested by Dr. John J, Beihhold of the Mia. General Hospital and the second set to be sent to the Hettinger LaJsratorieB, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio for Dr. Kehoe^ analyses, i The Waning of the tanks at Hbrfolk was under the close super vision of the Safety Engineer of the Ethyl Corporation, Mr. Vm. Treleaae, and as far as we can determine, all of the safety rules were strictly com plied with. Mr. lj L,, Wolff, advised Ifr. Cronin, la charge of the Ethyl Corporation offits at l8l6 Baltimore Trust Bldg., Baltimore, Md. of this affair and wo unStarfcani that he in turn has already contacted Mr. Oscar Lewis, who incidafetlly was with Dr. Kehoe in Cincinnati at the time we were talking with him a the telephone. It ha been suggested that we have all the employees in the tank cleaning crew eaoained for possible lead contamination and, if it meets with your approval, vtjsball have Dr. Kehoe make arrangements for this thru Dr. Bouse, as three if the men are residents of Philadelphia, and may be examined upon their next ttoit to this city. The other two can be examined by a local physician in the SLty of lorfolk. We skill of course keep you currently informed regarding the case and, if yon have my comments, they would, be appreciated. GEBiAH E. F. Moore KB 0021244 11: Samples of blood received from Dr. J. Reinhold. Biochemical laboratory, Philadelphia General Hospital, for lead analyses I&ood Analysis Humber = I4J4A.-2695 Spec trofrraphlc Grains 7*9 Jig. Pb/lOO g. 0.05 Spectrographlc 3.1 O.Oo Rote: The third sample run by dithizone method was badly con taminated. The samples were not in our containers and seemed to have been provided with anticoagulants. Samples Received: Samples Reported; 6-7-141- K? 0021245 N 24545.01