Document LJGE3XmBzLDw83nZ3qo9DOBXw

October 17, 1939 Dr, 13* E, Eoker Institute of Pathology Western Reserve University 20S5 Adalbert Road Cleveland* Ohio Dear Doctor Sokeri- > We are laboring under a considerable volume of work at the present time which.makes it difficult for us to acoede to the request in your letter of October l*!th,and which would make it quite impossible for us to analyze the materials which you wish to send us without some delay, Cn the other hand, I do not like to refuse to accommodate you and if It would be satisfactory to you to have these samples worked in gradually along with some others, we shall be able to complete them over a period of several weeks, In view of our experience with the opportunities for contamination in the handling of'the tissues of animals, I think I should warn you that the utmost care is necessary in order to obtain useful results, The ooncentratlona of lead in animal tissues are always quite low, and the total quantities involved in the tissues of small animals are quite small. Consequently the slightest factor of contamination will completely vitiate the results, I have ho wish to presume upon our experience, but sinoe I have no direct knowledge of the extent to which you are acquainted with the above difficulties, and 3inoe I would not want our work to be in vain, I believe it would be wise if we vrere to provide you with containers from our own laboratory for the collection of these samples. The tissues should be removed from the animals with the least possible handling in an area that Is free of dust, and all tools or instruments, or any other materials with which the tissues come in contact should be cleaned with the utmost precautions, after which the$?rhould be carefully rinsed In the beat quality of distilled water. If it is possible to handle the tissiies themselves without any rinsing, it would be highly desirable to do so. <r - 2~ m The containers should be carefully weighed, the tissues should be introduced into them and then they should be re-welghedf In this way It will be unnecessary to use any preservative on the tissues* and any decomposition which ocoura in them will have no effect upon the analytical results* If you will let me know the type of animals which you are using* and the namber of samples of each tissue I which you would like to have analysed* we will provide you with the necessary containers which will then not have to be returned to you. We will not need $ore than 100 grams at most of any tissue and we can* of course, work with a high degree of accuracy with as little as 10 grams. If it is necessary or advisable for you to retain a portion of each tissue* the portion destined for analysis should be out off with a minimal amount of handling and weighed as I have indicated* after which the remainder of the tissue in its original wet form should be weighed. We should be provided with the total weight of each organ to be examined. If then you would be agreeable to giving ua the information as to the nature of the treatment of the animals, we might find ourselves in possession of data which would be useful to us as well as to you. Obviously, however, we would make no use of your data without your permission. I mention the point only because it seems too bad, unless it is necessary, to lose any data 'which may be useful in connection with our work. If I have gone to some length to describe the necessities in technique, It is because I have found that some of the workers in this field and some who have actually,published data in the literature, have not realized that the dffeota of'contamination may provide analytical results far in excess of the quantities of lead arising from the specif!o experimental procedure. As to the cost of these analyses, we are somewhat hesitant in Collecting money from our scientific colleagues for rendering them certain useful services. We would prefer hot to make any charge unless indeed you-have already eet aside specif!o funds for this phase of the project. We have found that the over-all cost of individual analyses of the type you have in mind is approximately Pr sample* We would not think of making any charge in excess of this figure and we should quite agreeable to suiting our charges, if any, to the circumstances connected with your work. X leave that matter very largely in your hands. - 3- If you will let me know at your earliest convenience aa to what you would like ua to do, we will undertake the necessary arrange ments. Cordially yours, BAKiS Robert.A, Kehoe, M.D, K E 0009086