Document NEYOrn1MZObQbbME08xJq5vyE

MEMORANDUM DR. LANZA: June 15, 1945 tle 1 Contacts in Quebec relating to the asbestosis problem ,^{Jl '(*t*u*'r 1. Yqrr should. _aee Ur. Ivan Sabourin, Aldred Building, Montreal. (See qz {tuJ copy of my attached letter of June 12th.) Among the reasons for seeing Q--Sabourin would be: (a) To secure his help in arranging a trip for you to Thetford and Asbestos. He might be able to drive you. He certainly can facilitate your contacts with the management, (b) He is eager for knowledge K. about asbestosis and would gain a lot in talking to you. (c) If you agree that it would be worth while to have Rather Bouvier's student of industrial relations from the University of Montreal spend several months this summer living at Thetford Mines and studyingjw&rlcing conditions, you could help per /. suade Sabourin to have him invited and his expenses paid by the asbestos operators. Burnette has already spoken to him about it and I have written him, as you know, and perhaps Sabourin will have already agreed to this. 2. See Father Emile Bouvier, S.J., Director of the Industrial Relations Section of the University of Montreal. Norman knows him well and probably will arrange this meeting for you. Father Bouvier was here this week and is, of course, interested in the industrial health problems in Thetford Mines. He impresses me as being a fairminded man and the mine operators in Thetford would do well to have his support. 3. Visit Thetford Mines to meet the mine operators; Dr. Jacques Cartier, the new Medical Directorof the Industrial Health Clinic which the mine operators rrMrli tw were establishingj Dr. Sirou, the physician in charge of the Thetford Mines Hospital tuberculosis service. He works part-time for the Health Department. Dr. Sirou believes asbestosis causes tuberculosis. The situation in Thetford Mines is a difficult one because no matter what the mining operators do they are "behind the eight ball". They will uncover a lot of old asbestosis as well as tuberculosis by their industrial health program. The more thorough the job the more problems they are going to discover. Since asbestosis is compensable, this is going to cost them much money. Cto the other hand, if they have to be pushed at every step in developing a health program, they will get no credit and they will eventually have to pay in compensation claims for conditions that they may deliberately shut their eyes to now. It seems to me that they must set aside substantial sums now to put their house in order. They should develop the best industrial health service possible and they should aid in every way the improvement of health and living conditions in the community. 4* You ought to look at Asbestos where they have Dr. Stevenson, who has been associated with J.M. for a good many years, and Dr. Smith, a young physician recently employed. Dr. Smith impressed me as being a very good man. You might want to look him over and keep him in mind for some positions which may be avail able in the States or elsewhere in Canada, because I understand he might be interested in a change. 5. I suggest that you get to Quebec and see Dr. F. J. Tourangeau, Director of Industrial Hygiene far the Provincial State Health Department. Dr. Tourangeau would be honored to see you and would have many things he would like to discuss 0664 2- - with you. Dr. A. R. Foley should also be seen. He is the Provincial Epidem iologist and is interested in the study that we made. I attach a letter from him dated April 24th that you might want to be familiar with. Dr. Paul Parrot, the Statistician of the Provincial Health Department, was very helpful to me by supplying the statistical information and also answering some questions that have arisen since my'visit. I wrote Dr. Parrot on June 6th, asking him whether the tuberculosis deaths, as reported for Thetford Mines, represent deaths of \ residents of Thetford Mines only or whether they include deaths of tuberculous j ^ individuals of other communities dying in Thetford Mines Hospital. You may be able to get an answer to this question because I have not heard from him. This i is a very important point to establish, if possible. 6. You ought to see Dr. Graham Ross, Medical Director of National Breweries. As soon as I know your plans as regards dates that you will he in / Montreal, I will be glad to write Dr. Ross and let him know that you are coming. He may wish to bring together a group of physicians who are doing industrial health to meet you. I attach a copy of the report which summarizes the trip I ./ made to Canada between October 16 and 21, 1944, which you might want to glance through. I would be glad to answer any questions that you have. George M. Wheatley, M.D. A-ssistant Vice-President, Welfare