Document 4JRekmL81V4e51Z2Y9n9ZB9gx

'LAJNTIFF'S exhibit s firASBEY &. MaTTISOX * October 23, 1846 Confidential Mr. Vandiver Brown Johns-Manville Corporation * irv New York 16,"n. Y. Dear Mr. Brown: <*r- -- T^Kr^+t fYTM Report on Asbestos Dust Experiments Thank you very much for your letter of October 22nd together with copy of the Saranac Laboratory report dated September 30, 1948 entitled "Asbestos Pneumoconiosis'' and also copy of your comments on the report which we briefly discussed over the telephone the other day. In addition, I wish to iyou for your letter of October 27th and for the kind Invitation to be present at a luncheon in the Johns-Manville Corporation Board room on Thursday, November 11th, at 12:30 P.M. I accent with pleasure and will bring my copy of the report with me to the meeting. I wish to make the following comments: 1. I fully agree with the views as expressed in your memorandum sent with your letter of October 22nd. 2. The report Is confidential and Is the property of those who ad vanced the funds far carrying out the experiments at the Saranac Laboratory. The report should be confined to the results on only. There shodd be a separate later report, not a supplementary report, dealing with human asbestosls. 6. Experiments reported cm to date covering tumors and pneumonia caused by asbestos dust are inconclusive. The entire paragraph No. 92 cm page 35 "Neoplasm" should be deleted. 6. The number of million asbestos particles (long and short) per cnbl foot of air Is, in my opinion, a more accurate and indicative meassreme Kan the percentage of long fibres. Mr. Vandiver Brown 2 Octocer 23, 1346 To me, after having studied the report quite carefully, the following are the most significant points: Paragraph 81, Pngs 34 - Comparison of Long-Fibre and Short-Fibre Dusts. . ~ _____________ "WILL quartz dust It has teen demonstrated that the smaller the particles, the more Intense Is the tissue reaction, and that there is little reaction lo particles larger than three mlcror.s In diameter. In the case of asbestos, nowever. the reverse is true and apparently only long fibres have any specific effect." Paragraph 87, Page 37 - Theory of Irritant Action of Asbestos Minerals "In view of this evidence It seems more likely that isbestosis Is caused by an unusual mechanical irritation from long asbes tos fibres." "Further support for tne theory of mechanical Irritation Is that asbestasis occurs In an organ of high mobility -- the lung -- ar.4 that a fibrous reaction can be produced by Injection c! asbestos fibres Into the peritoneum, where there is also a de gree of mobility, but not In other eurcrapulmonary organs." t Paragraph 90. Page 39 - Susceptibility to Tuberculous Infection "When the fibrous dust was being Inhaled during the evolution of the Infection, there was a spreading of the tuberculous pro cess for a time bta usually the stimulus for continued pro liferation of the tubercle bacilli was not sustained, the pro gression was arrested and healing followed. Looking forward to the pleasure cf seeing you on Thursday, Novem ber 11th, and with best wishes, I remain meek ee Mr. J. F. D. Rchrfcach President Thank you very much lor your letter of October 22nd together with copy of the Saranac Laboratory report dated September 30, 1948 entitled "Asbestos Pneumoconiosis" and aiso copy of your comments on the report which we briefly discussed over the telephone the other day. Ir. addition, I wish to thanV you foT your letter oi October 27th and for the kind invitation to be present at a luncheon in the Jokns-MaavUle Corporation Board room on Thursday, November 11th, at 12:39 P.M. I accent with pleasure and will bring my copy ol the report with me to the meeting. I wish to TMaV> the following comments: 1. 1 fully agree with the views as expressed in your memorandum sent with your letter of October 22nd. 2. The report is confidential and Is the property of those who ad vanced the funds for carrying out the experiments at the Saranac 5. Experiments reported on to date covering tumors and pneumonia caused by asbestos dust are inconclusive. Tbs entire paragraph No. cd page 39 "Neoplasm" should be deleted. 6. The number ctf million asbestos particles Clang and short) per cubi foot cd air is, in my opinion, a more accurate and Indicative measureme than the percentage cd long fibres.