Document 8R0Gj7dMK5j0JaeQ5nj02jQxK

m):':U'!TIS mUOElc.D FORCE Office, of the Conraanding General Fort Knox, Kentucky. 01 463.7 :.S.iORANDUM TO: Assistant Chief of Staff, 0-4. November 12, 1940 Kith reference to ray memorandum to you of October 29, 1940 on the subject of Section II, Memorandum No. 5, Hq, Armored Force, ''Dangers of Lead Poisoning" , when the i.'ar Department Liaison Officer of Armored Force reported that Public Stealth Bulletin on leaded A gasoline was out of print, I wrote the L.thyl Gasoline Corporation for a copy and the following is extract of their reply: '-He "1 am pleased to advise you that Dr. A. F. Hachlc of our medical staff ".rill call on you shortly. Ho vd.ll Siring with him a copy of Public Stealth Service Bulletin -do. 163 providing that any of those bulletins are still available. There is, however, other material of a much later date available and Dr. Llachle will have these and will be glad to discuss them with you. Dr. Hachlo will be able to give you a lot of very pertinent information on the proper handling of gasoline" Suggest thi_p be brought to attention of Chief of Staff _ McD. THOMPSON, *-ieut. Colonel, f,, H. -Corps, .uartermaster. v\.C ii.50.iJj i._ I HEADQUARTERS ARMORED FORGE Fort Knox, Kentucky October 24, 1940. MEMORANDUM ) NUMBER 5. ) PROCUREMENT OF TOW C H A I N S ------- I DANGERS OF LEAD P O I S O N I N G ------- II "'" k-V Quartermaster General's office has advised that fcovi chains are b&ing procured for all vehicles of one^-a'nd one-half (lx-l/s) tons capacity u^vto seven and one half (7-l/j2}^tons capacity.^Tow chains 'or ropes for passenger cars and vehicles^'f less than one qnd one-half tohs, capacity are stillxin the development stage. ' n . 2. Unit supply p r i c e r s will requisiidbn for tow chainstJSSr all vehicles-,on hand on ,tji0''6asjts^of one per vehicle for all vehicles from one and one-half. (l-l/^J^uons capacity to sqvn and one-half (j--!/ 2) tons capacity. Requisitions vdll be forwa'M ^ d ^tnrough channels johcscribed in Circular 1-6, copy being furnished uhis headquarters'". 3* The following nouihclature will oersed in requisitioning for thps'e items: y y ,< \ X For lg tQX'2-| ton capacity_qre-hicles: 8-A-NS Chdin, tow, iitilily/ 16 ft x 7/l6 in., higfr^tqst, in accordance"'with OQMG drawing N'&v 07855-V. ^ - ^'For 4 to 7s tp-rf capacity vehicles^. d'8-A-NS Chainp'tov;, 20 ft. x 5/8 in.,shigh test in accordance With OQMG drawing No. 08073-V. II. 1. Due to the danger of lead poisoning from the careless handling of gasoline, every effort should be made to prevent and control this occupational hazzard. 2. Constant contact with gasoline containing lead will result in sufficient absorption to produce not only local skin irritation, loss of pigment, bleeding of the gums, and loosening of the teeth, but other serious systemic symptoms. 3. Division Commanders are directed-to institute measures thought necessary to avoid careless handling of gasoline, in order to prevent disability and loss of time from lead poisoning. Memorandum Number 5j Ha. Armored Force, Ft. Knox, Ky., a.s,, cont'd. By command of Major General MAGRUDER: ' ' SERENO E. BRETT, Lieut.'Colonel, General Staff Corps Chief of Staff. OFFICIAL: / V- "Aa, ^ ^ A B X S C N PEARSON', Lieut. Colonel, A.G.D., Adjutant General. ' DISTRIBUTION "A". K F 0009530 V COPY COPY Headquarters X Armored Corps Office The Quartermaster Port Knox, Kentucky. October 29, 1940. Memo to A.C. of S., G-4. Attention is invited to the attached provisions of Section II, Memo. No. 5, cs, this headquarters on the subject o f i "Dangers of Lead Poisoning". Memorandum of October 11, 1940, this headquarters prescribes that gasoline of 80 octane be used in all vehicles and gasoline ranges of the Armored Force, except tanks equipped with Wright engines which are required to use 92 octane gasoline pending outcome of test by Armored Force Board. All of this gasoline contains tetraethyl lead. ue are having a hard enough time getting personnel to take proper care of the gasoline range, Model 1937 and a great deal of the trouble is due to their fear of the range through unfamiliarity with its operation. This latter has been and will be corrected through various means that we have recently undertaken. However to have this scare notice on the subject of lead poisoning cane out is going to materially affect the progress we had hoped to secure in this matter, as operating personnel are now going to have some other point to cause them to dislike this ranee - fear of lead poisoning. With the gasoline requirements of the Armored Force we are going to have a hard enough time supplying this item without arousing undue fear in personnel that are required to handle it. This memo, on lead poisoning is misleading. Careless handling of gasoline can not cause lead poisoning. "Constant contact" is too indefinite a term and can but cause unnecessary dread or fear. Paragraph 3 is too general and does not give specific measures that should be used to prevent the very remote possibility of lead poisoning from gasoline containing tetraethyl lead. It has been brought to my notice that a man of the 1st Anaored Division was admitted to the hospital after the last maneuvers overcome while refilling gasoline cans and that the report has been circulated that "he has .symptoms of lead poisoning". I am informed that the station hospital has not the equipment with which to make the necessary tests for lead poisoning and that a definite diagnosis can not be made without such clinical tests. All of these factors lead up to a situation that can cause serious consequences, especially with the coming increases of Armored Force units through selective service men. KH* 0009531 1 \ COPT COPT Memo to A. C. of S., G-4* 10/29/40, Contdi The undersigned has sent to the Liaison Officer asking that he secure certain Public Health Service Bulletins on this subject and on their receipt it is hoped to be able to prepare a letter of instruction to senior unit commanders of the Armored Force that may counteract the harmful aspects of the attached memorandum on dangers of lead poisoning. I am reliably informed that the Public Health Service is the one that prescribed that not to exceed 3 cc of tetraethyl lead per gallon may be used commercially in gasoline as they found that that quantity was so snail that there was not danger of lead poisoning. ' , The A m y Medical Center has made an exhaustive test of the possibility of lead poisoning from the use of 80 octane gasoline in the Field Range, Model 1937 and reported that the presence of lead in the fumes from this range was in such snail quantity that there was no danger to either operating personnel or contamination of foods or utensils. It is recommended that in the future ary matters that are apt to hare as many repercussions as the matter of lead poisoning from gasoline be thoroughly investigated before any instructions are issued on the subject and that when such investigation has been made that instructions be sent out in forms of letters of instruction to senior unit comanders to avoid the possibility of developing unwarranted fears through too wide a dissemination such as has been given to the attached memo through prescribing "Distribution Incl JOHN McD. THOMPSON, Lieut. Colonel, Q. ii. Corps H E 00085 0 o - 2-