Document N8w84vLo2G6Dd6kDXjX7D8Jw

LABORATORY OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY, , UNi VERSi TY OF CINCINNAI! COLLEGE OF MEDICINE GENERAL HOSPITAL - : - c . a v - Ph; March 30, 1932 Dr. W. D. Hall Glen Campbell Pennsylvania! " .- / '' , .; '': ' , . .\ . /; /' My dear Dr. Hall: . ; ' ; ______ _ A few days ago the Illness of Mr.| of Clearfield, Pa., who is your patient, was Drought t ^ m y attention by officials of the Independent Oil Company. . My assistant, Dr. Schradin went to Clearfield to determine the facts In this case and at the time, of his visit he was.., sorry to find that you wore away for a few days, under the circuitstancea, he .mads use of the opportunity to examine and to discuss the matter with other physicians v / h ^ S u T D e e n interested in the case. Since he was unable to see you, I am writing in order to express our^ point of view about the case. In this connection it may be oa some interest to you to know that since introduction of Ethyl Gasoline in to commercial markets, I and my associates have made it a point to investigate any and all reports of illness or Injury concerned with its use Furtnermore, we have carried on fairly extensive observations of large, numbers of men employed as Filling Station attendants, Refinery handlers of gasoline and garage mechanics. We have been unable to dis cover any cases of lead poisoning; in connection with these occupations and extensive chemical studies have failed to demonstrate that there is an appreciable absorption of lead associated with these occupations, fhus, we have no history of occurence of poisoning and it becomes particularly impor tant to establish the background of any symptoms which may be-shown by gasoline handlers bn a very firm basis before making a diagnosis of lead poisoning. ;. Uf : ' '2.- In the case.of your patient, both Dr. Sehradln and I feel that the diagnosis of lead poisoning is untenable and for the following reasons: paralysis involving an entire side of the body are not frequent and in fact almost never occur in lead poisoning, fhus in the case of Mr. Murray, a left sided facial paralysis with a right sided paralysis of the arm and leg and trunk, Indicate definitely a lesion of the central nervous system. Jhe paralysis was not of extensor type but involved both flexors and extensors. This is distlnctly not a characteristic distribution of a lead paralysis. : .i **- : : The onset-was; sudden and recovery has been rapid. Both of these circumstances speak against lead intoxication. It would be of further interest to study the lead excrement" In your patient in relation to the diagnosis except for the fact that the lead exposure in his case is known to be so minute, that It would not be possible to find significant quanities of lead above the normal level. This Is especially true since the patient has had no opportunity for. exposure for a number of weeks. Thus, no good purpose would be served by an analysis of the excreta for lead. At the time of Dr* Sehradin's examination, Mr. Murray showed no blood changes and an examination of stain^smears showed no evidence of microscopic abnormalities such as might be associated with lead poisoning. , Our conclusion, therefore is that Mr. Murray shows no evidence Gf having lead Intoxication and that his illness is due either to a small cerebral hemorrhage or more likely from the history, a -comparatively small thrombosis :: Very truly yours, RAK-.IS -/i I K F 0011509