Document Lg757XXkZ9bppkxB26MpJdB3g

/ CLARENCE E . REES, M. D.,F A.C.S. CLAIR L.STEALY. M. D..F. A..C.P. S.J.McCLENDON.M .D. ' WILLIAM C.COORE.M.D. HERVEY K.GRAHAM. M. D. R ,H. SU NOBERG ,M.D. .. -V,- . REE5-STEALY CLINIC 2001 FOURTH AVENUE SAN DIEGO,CALIFORNIA H.S.SUMERLIN, M. D. H.A.CAVE.M. D..M.SC. J.A.MAY.M.D. CHARLES W. REES.M.D. G.BURCH MEHLIN.M.O. May 13, 1932 Dr, Bobert A, Kehoe University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Dear Dr, Kahoe: At the request of Llr, S. LI. wanner of the Sthyl Gasoline Corporation, I have investi gated the clrcuins canoes surrounding the death of Lieut U.S. Havy (retired). Ur.' tfagner requested that I send you a report of my findings, She newspaper reported it a death from lead poisoning. Lieut was r etired from ' service several years ago on accottn t of arteriosclero- sis with hypertension, In an attempt to siphon the gasoline he aspirated a mouthful, bringing on violent paroxysms of coughing. His family physician, among other things, administered emetics and finally washed out his stomach, Pinally (I do not know the exact time interval) he sent him to the Haval Hospital with the diagnosis of lead poisoning,. Upon admission he had a marked pulmonary edema and a greatly lowered blood pressure. He died the following morning. . The autopsy showed a rupture of the ascending aorta in one of the atheromatous plaques which did not penetrate the adventitia. The blood passed between the media and adventitia down beyond the bifurcation of the aorta and upward along the vessels of the neck. The right ventricle of the heart contained a large thrombus and both lungs showed-mu1tiple infarcts. The case was presented at a meeting of our society of pathologists of which I am a member. Dr, Hall stated that he found a trace of lead in the urine, but, of course, did not consider lead as a factor in the death. - 2- It happens that my nephew, Leon baler is a freshman medical student at your school. I think he is a good hoy and if there is ever a time when you can give him a lift along the rocky path of the medical student it will he appreciated hy me . Sincerely yours, H. S. Sumerlin, LI.D.