Document K7D8oQonoEkzQY944nx2ZnZN

FILE NAME: General Electric (GE) DATE: 1933 Jan 8 DOC#: GE003 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from Dr. Hamilton to GE January 8, 1933 Gerard Swope, President General Elsetrio Company 570 Lexington Avenue Hew York, 5. Y. Pear Mr. Swope:- I have been talking over with Philip Drinker the problem of asbestos dust In the four plants of the General Electric Company that you mention* In view of the fact that I am to attend a conference of physioIans oalled by Dr. Tosburgh, In Soheneatady, on the 25th and 26th of this month, at which Dr* Gardner pf Saranac. one of the foremost experts on dust diseases, is to be present, I should like to postpone what I have to say on the matter until after discussion with the General Sleotrio physicians and Dr. Gardner. I will therefore write you again about the end of this month. Sincerely yours, Alioe Hamilton If. D 2 Dr. Hamilton 1- 30-34 to bring this question to you as Issuing from the Company but simply as an Interesting subject to study. I have already made a oareful survey, and within a short time we expeot to make the necessary arrangements to exhaust these vapors issuing from the tanks by providing hoods over eaoh tank so that only a minimum of rvapor escape is possible into the room. These vapors, due to their originating from high melting point materials, condense upon the skin of the workers and, if deposited there in sufficient quantities, may oause the baoking up of the sebaceous matter, due to the clogging of the pores, causing slight eruptions and blackheads. The cure evidently consists in keeping the skin clean and applying a layer of vaseline, castor oil or cold cream to the exposed parts of the body during working periods. It is, naturally, my aim to make these improvements as soon as possible in order to protect our employees from any possible inconvenience. To return to asbestosis, may I suggest that you write a similar letter to the Bridgeport Works in which the atmospheric conditions are hot nearly so good as in York. In this Plant a much more inferior asbestos material is used and at one of my visits I noticed considerable atmospheric contamination. It may be, however, that improvements have taken place. Please do not hesitate to write me again in case I can be of further Bervice to you in this study. Upon your request, I shall gladly furnish you a copy of Dr. Cowlets treatise. Sincerely yours, 0;R (Q\/~ '