Document EqxXQwjdEjOgMYBew9D843r5g

FILE NAME: Raybestos-Manhattan (RBM) DATE: 1936-1937 DOC#: RBM078 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letters between Dr. Gardner, The Saranac Laboratory and Vandiver Brown, J-M & Memo of Agreement Regarding Payments to Dr. Gardner Mr'.'Schluter. . 11/13/Jio work:-on experimenting with Asbestos at once, and has suggested to us that the Asbestos industry take over this Dust Chamber and employ him to carry on the experiments with guinea pigs and rabbits. The idea of Mr* Brown and myself would be to have four or five (or t-vun more if v.c could got them) Asbestos manufacturers take over this study by subscribing an equal amount per year, for three years, and then v.c could determine from time to time after the find ings are made, whether wo vdsh any publication or not. My own idea is that it v/ouid be a good thing to distribute the information among the medical fraternity, providing it is of the right type and would not injure our companies. Tiiis would mean, if four of us went in to carry on this work, it would be:$1,2*30.00 a year for each one of us for a period of threo years. If you are interested in this subject, I should like to have a meeting in New York, on Tuesday, November 17, at 1:30 o*clock, ut The Biltnore, or ,if this is not satisfactory, can make it any place you care to have it. I am asking the following to attend the meeting, Mr. Vandiver Brown, Johns-Manville, Inc.'7 Mr. F. H. Schluter, Therraoia Rubber Co.-// Mr. A. G. Blagden, keasbey s Mattison.Coi Ur. H. D. DaMont, Asbestos Manufacturing Co;- , Mr. G. M. Viilllnmo, Russell Manufacturing Co.s Mr. S. Simpson, Raybestos-Mcnhattan, Inc.v la there any one else you would suggest? Very truly yours, SS-G. President November 20, 1936 LeRoy U. Gardner, U. D., Director, The Saranac Laboratory, Saranac Lake, New York. Dear Dr. Gardner: At a meeting yesterday attended by certain braxe lining manufacturers, Hr. Simpson and I were able to present to a fairly large group of interested corporations the proposal that one of your dusting chambers be engaged for .further experi mentation with asbestos dust. The proposal was very well received and it appears that not less than eight, and perhaps ten or more, corporations will participate in financing these*further experiments along " the lines discussed when we met with Dr. Lanza and Dr. idcConnell a few days ago. Accordingly, you may consider this letter as an authorization to you to commence the contemplated experiments with asbestos dust for the purpose of determining more definitely the causes and effects of asbestosis. It is my understanding that, among other questions which it is anticipated these experi ments will answer, are the following: (1) 'That concentration of dust is necessary to prouuce the fibrosis of the lungs which is designated as asbestosis. (2) Whether exposure to asbestos dust will produce asbestosis without the existence of previous infection and whether the X-ray changes found in advanced human asbestosis can be reproduced in animals without infection. (3) Whether the fibrosis produced by asbestos is of the progressive type, that is, will the fibrosis increase (once it has started) after exposure to the dust has ceased. - 2- (4) Whether the fibrosi3 resulting from exposure to asbestos dust is occasioned by the silicon con tent of the asbestos or by its fibrous structure. (5) Whether the presence of "asbestos bodies* has any diagnostic significance. It is also our understanding that these experiments will require approximately three years, which will mean that they will not be concluded until about the end of the year 1939; and that they will cost $5,000 annually, or a total of $15*000. V It is our further understanding that the results obtained will be considered the property of those who are advanc- V' ing the required funds, who will determine whether, to what extent \ and in what manner they shall be made public. In the event it is \ deemed desirable that the results be made public, the manuscript I of your study will be submitted to us for approval prior to publics- / tion. I shall appreciate your advising me if the foregoing accurately expresses the proposition you had in mind. Also, let me know the manner in which you would like to have the funds ad vanced to you. Would you, for example, desire to have $1250 paid quarterly in advance, or Just what arrangement would suit you best? Any method you suggest will be satisfactory. Since the experiments are being underwritten by a rela tively large group, it has been suggested tliat, as a matter of con venience, any communications regarding the work be addressed to me and I will, where necessary, communicate the contents thereof to itr. Simpson and the other parties. You will be provided with funds by either Johns-Manvilie Corporation or Raybestos-Manhattan, Incor porated and we or they will secure from the other parties their pro rata contribution. I will advise you later of the names of the other con tributing parties. I shall appreciate your informing me at the earliest possible moment whether the arrangement as outlined herein meets with your approval. V3:T Sincerely yours, 7 (r z><yv\yy\ Vandiver Brown General Attorney T hb Saranac L aboratory for th e Stu d y of T uberculosis of THE EDWARD L. TRUDEAU FOUNDATION .PEIVED POST OFFICE BC 7 CHURCH S T R ^ ) ^ VVWlJ Saranac Lak^ ^ Y November 23, 1 9 ^ i Mr. Vandiver Brown Johns-Manvilie Corporation 22 East 40th Street New York City Viti. 't.k.tk'kitl 0H1CV Dear Mr. Brown: Your authorization to proceed v/ith the proposed asbestos is experiments at the Saranac Laboratory is acknowledged with satisfaction. Vie believe that such experiments can be ex pected to furnish asnwers to the questions which you have outlined. The estimated cost of $5,00Oannually for a period of three years, making a total of $15,000, is correct. Your suggestion to make advanced quarterly payments of $1,250 will be entirely satisfactory to the Laboratory. If this is not convenient any other arrangement that you may care to make will be acceptable. of these and that approval The Saranac Laboratory agrees that the results studies shall become the property of the contributors the manuscripts of any reports shall be submitted fcr of the contributors before publication. I would recommend that the experiments be performed with pure Canadian asbestos fibre containing re latively little seruentii.e rock oust. The "Kings Floats" user, in our first experiment was unsatisfactory owing to the fact that it contained such a high concentration of nonfibrous rock dust. If this meets with your approval I would suggest that a sample be submitted to the Laboratory for chemical and petrographic analysis. Having mutually satisfied ourselves as to the material to be used I wmiid request that the companies agree to sunoly a sufficient quantity of asDestos, ground to one finest state of subdivision possible. 1 am not aware wnether any of the contrioutors have apparatus capable of reducing fibres to inhalable dimensions. If this request should not Mr.V.Brown,Nov.23, 1936, p.2 prove practical some arrangement for Its final reduction will have to be made by the Laboratory. But at least the material received by us should be broken to powder. It is impossible to estimate the amount of material necessary for the experiments at the present time as its behavior in our dusting apparatus has never been determined. With the '`Kings Floats" tests approximately 1200 pounds a year were required. It is conceivable thut a pure fibrous au3t might be dissipated into the atmosphere more rapidly and hence even a larger quantity would be necessary. *<e are ready to start the work at any time and will be pleased to examine samples of oust as soon as they can be procured. Thanking you for your cooporation in arranging this program, I am With best regards, Sincerely yours, LUG :CC Leroy U. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT November 20, 1936 THE UNDERSIGNED hereby agree to underwrite certain experiments with asbestos dust to be conducted by Dr. LeRoy U. Gardner at the Saranac Laboratory, Saranac Lake, New York. The general nature of these experiments and the cost thereof were explained at the meeting of certain brake lining manufacturers held in New York City on November 19, 1936. The purpose of this memorandum is to confirm the agreement between the Undersigned to underwrite the cost of these experiments amounting to $5,000 per year for a period of three (3) years, or a total of $15,000. The Undersigned agree to share equally the costs of said experiments. For example, if ten parties sign this Agreement, the annual contribution of each will be $500. It may be more or less, depending on whether/the number of those signing is more or less than ten. / It is understood that payments/ to Dr. Gardner will, for the sake of convenience, be made directly by Johns-Manville Corporation or by Raybestos-Manhattan, Incorporated, and that the others of the Undersigned will reimburse Johns-Manville Ex e c u t iv e Of f ic e s J ohns -Ma n v iix e Corporation TW KNTY* TWO KST FO R TIETH STR E E T N E W Y O R K , N .Y. February 27, 1937 Mr. Sumner Simpson, Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn. Re: Asbestos Dust Experiments Dr. L. U. Gardner_________ Dear Mr. Simpson: The United States randum of Agreement relating to experiments with asbestos dust, the sum of 250 per annum, or a term of the experiments. Gypsum Company signed the Memo the underwriting of Dr. Gardner's limiting its participation to total of 750 for the three-year I believe that we have now fully canvassed the industry. The co-operation of the following companies has been obtained on a basis whereby their respective contributions are limited to 250 per annum: (l American Brake Block Corporation (2) Gatlce Corporation ^ (3) Union Asbestos & Rubber Company (4; United States Gypsum Company. The participation of the above named companies will provide 1,000 a year, leaving the sum of 4,000 per year to be pro-rated between the following companies who have not limited their participation in the enterprise: (l Asbestos Manufacturing Company (2 Johns-Manville Corporation (3) Keasbey & L-Iattison (4) Raybestos-Manhattan, Incorporated (5) Russell Manufacturing Company (6) Thermoid Company and Southern Asbestos Company. The six companies last above named will, therefore, be called upon to contribute the sum of 666.67 per year for the three-year period. - 2- I am enclosing herewith, for your records, a photo static copy of the Memorandum of Agreement and photostatic copies of my letter to Dr. Gardner of November 20, 1936 and his reply of November 23, 1936, which set forth the substance of the arrange ment between Dr. Gardner and the group. Copies of this letter, together with copies of the enclosed photostats, are being sent to each of the other partici pants. -Last December Johns-Manville Corporation sent Dr. Gardner its check for $1250, constituting advance payment for the first quarter of 1937 on account of his annual retainer. Your Company and others of the group will be billed shortly for .your share of this payment under the terms of the Memorandum. JohnsManville Corporation is willing to continue making these advances to Dr. Gardner at the commencement of each succeeding calendar quarter during 1937, unless you or others prefer the matter be handled differently. I believe, however, that Dr. Gardner will prefer, in the matter of payment, to deal with one member of the group and it is my opinion, in which I believe you concur, that this represents the most satisfactory procedure. Johns-Manville Corporation has likewise provided Dr. Gardner with 1200 pounds of asbestos fibre which he considers satisfactory for his purposes, although it has been found necessary for him to subject it to a ball milling' process in order to re duce it to the desired degree of fineness. He estimates that this quantity will be sufficient for the first year's experiments and we will be very glad, at our expense, to provide him with similar quantities for the other two years. I have also sent Dr. Gardner a photostatic copy of the Memorandum of Agreement so that he is fully advised as to the identity of those companies whose support he is receiving. At the same time I advised Dr. Gardner that those concerns which had limited their contributions were to participate just as fully in the benefits resulting from his -experiments as were the others. Very truly yours, VB:T Enclosures Vandiver Brown General Attorney