Document 7e8zQV1Nv60enzEx2g0Kv5me

FILE NAME: Raybestos-Manhattan (RBM) DATE: 0000 DOC#: RBM126 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Barry Castleman Notes, Typed - Charleston Correspondence CHARLESTON CORRESPONDENCE EXHIBITS 44-61 44 RaybestosManhattan to Lanza December 29, 1942: Advises Lanza of another common law suit by x-employee j calls treating physician a quack^' relates he is sending x-rays to Dr. Pendergrass: "Inasmuch as this claim may wind up in the Courts, I am writing you with the hopes that you may be able to render us that assistance which has been so invaluable to us in the past." 45 Not Helpful - Letter December 29, 1942 - Raybestos-Manhattan to Fehnel (Metropolitan): Sends copy of Exhibit 44 and complains that former employee now shipyard worker with strenuous job can't be suffering from asbestos/./ 50 Letter from Jeffords (General Asbestos & Rubber Division) to Sumner Simpson dated May 26, 1937 enclosing a report from Dr. Sayers entitled "A Study of Dust Control Methods In an Asbestos Fabricating Plant" which Sayers wanted to publish. Jeffords is critizing the report. No. 1, Page 9 refers to experiment of cutting off exhaust fan and increasing dust count to 50 M.P.P.C.F. Jeffords is fearful that plaintiff's may seize upon this as evidence of prior negligence. "Of course, you, as well as others, who are competent to judge, know that nothing was known of the asbestos dust hazard, in this country, prior to 1929..." (Puffing about Raybestos-Manhattan efforts prior 1929) Concludes that this portion should be eliminated. No. 2, Page 10 catigorizes black help as shiftless and concludes that this portion should be eliminated. (fac f No. 3, Page 13 refers to dustj^ i-wfi-1-be.ratng from other operations and disputes the existence of engineering to control this. Refers to fact that Metropolitan agrees. Presently they rely on "airing out" the area. 2 No. 4, Page 17, CONCLUSION: Critizes the reports insistence on setting a TLV^ referring to Lanza's original position "it would appear to me that it has not been as yet, definitely decided as to the time of exposure to which an individual might be sugjected or the conditions to which he is subjected which would cause trouble." Concludes that paper shouldn't be published as presently drafted. NOTE : Is Exhibit 51 the USPHS letter to which Jeffords refers? Where is USPHS Report J 52 Letter January 8, 1937, Jeffords to Sumner Simpson regarding receipt of Dr. Shull's article. Complains about medical terms in article. Is going to discuss the article with Dr. Kenneth Lynch. Decries the acceleration of articles in literature about asbestos which he says do "not tend to solve the problem, if it is a problem." 60 AND 61 REFER TO PROPOSED USPHS SURVEY 60 Letter November 5, 1936, Sumner Simpson to Jeffords regarding request of USPHS to x-ray employees at Charleston. Sumner Simpson permits x-rays, but restricts their use to public health information and "you want to stress the fact that we do not want them given to shyster lawyers and doctors so as to be the subject of suits for, as you know, we have had enough adjustments for any one company." Beseeches the USPHS to help them as far as they legally can. 61 Letter October 31, 1936, Sumner Simpson to Jeffords regard ing proposed USPHS x-ray survey. Doesn't want x-rays to be given to all the "shyster lawyers and doctors in the county" because of fear of suits. Says it would be good to have x-rays of all employees by USPHS without it getting i m hands of others; would probably be better^let USPHS do it as "it would be one way of getting them without arousing 3 much suspicion on the part of the employees "being inter preted by the employees "as having some connection with the Social Security Act." Again expresses concer^over prolifera tion of law suits.