Document NexR54n0pJJOz8xwqB2zKXQbD

Lti ' ? C v t o . July 6, 1948 *& Or,. pjiZivs Dr*. Prank Princi, Director, Division of Industrial Medicine, University of Colorado, 42-JO EastNIhth Avenue, Denver 7, Colorado. ^ s ^ < 3L * _ -- / .f ^ 'O **. # C.J- -W' > Dear Doctor Princi: " Please abcept my belated thanks for your letter of June 7* and for the case report and the X-Ray photographs. This is d rather remarkable ca s e , not so much from the point of view of lead intoxication as the direct result of the ingestion of lead, but for the manner of ingestion. We have seen a number of cases of industrial lead poisoning in which there was no factor of inhalation or in which that factor was a negligible part of the picture. How ever, I have never before had a report of a case of an adult poisoned by chewing metallic lead objects. This situation is not too unusual among children, but it usually relates to their chewing little figurines, such as toy soldiers, Indians and the like, such as are provided by the use of certain commercial molding sets sold to doting parents for the amusement of their children. We have seen a number of such cases, including one that was fatal. I am very glad to have the pictures, and after you have published the case, I may veil have occasion to refer to it. I shall probably make a lantern slide, since,- as you know, we have been collecting rare as well as common Incidents related to lead absorption. As to the shadows seen in the testes, I should not give them a moment's thought ip connection with the possibility of lead deposits. It is not Impossible, and In fact it is quite likely, In my opinion, that these deposits will contain measurable quantities of lead. However, It is most improbable that the concentration of lead in the calcium deposits would be sufficient to Intensify the shadow. As you may be aware, even the lead deposits In bone are not such as to yield shadows. Rather they produce metabolic disturbances which give rise to demonstreble changes in the density of the bone. ^ ^ I sincerely hope I shall have an opportunity to see you later in the summer. My plans are still a bit uncertain, but if I am able to get to Denver, you will certainly hear from me. Sincerely yours , I-AK ef Robert A . Kehoe, M . D . jD E P A R T M E N T O F M E D IC IN E D IVISION O F IN D U ST R IA L M ED ICIN E UN IVER SITY O F C O LO R A D O M ED IC AL CENTER 4 2 0 0 EA ST N INTH A V EN U E DENVER ~7 , CO LO RAD O June 7, 1948 C O L O R A D O G E N E R A L H O S P IT A L C O L O R A D O P S Y C H O P A T H IC H O S P IT A L S C H O O L O F M E D IC IN E Dr. R. A. Kehoe Kettering Laboratory of Applied Physiology College of Medicine University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Dear Dr. Kehoe: First, I would like to thank you for your hospitality and the time that you spent with me when I was in Cincinnati. I strongly feel that it was one of the most profitable stops in my whole trip. Ie have recently had a very interesting case at Colorado General ^ al, which I thought you might like to see. I am enclosing photographs of certain x-rays which were taken at the time. The patient concerned had no history of exposure to lead whatsoever, but he did give a history of having chewed lead shot for many years. He entered the hospital with symptoms typical of lead colic, and it was some time before lead was suspected. The shadows shown in the flat plate of the abdomen are apparently lead deposits in the intestine. These almost entirely disappeared after the administration of cantor oil. The symptoms were almost entirely relieved after a month of symptomatic treatment. The urine and blood naturally showed large amounts of lead. A confusing factor was presented in the x-ray of the testicles. Some of the men here at the hospital feel that these are probably lead deposits. Personally, I think that these shadows have been produced by calcium deposits within the tunica or the testicle itself. At any rate, I wonder if you could give us an opinion of this matter, or if in your ex perience, you have ever seen such a situation. e are publishing this case since it is an example of lead intoxication _ stion only. (Something that is rather a rarity these days). You may keep these pictures if you wish, since they are duplicates, and I shall be very interested to hear what you think about them. I hope that you will not fail to stop in to see us this simmer. With best personal regards to you and your staff. Very sincerely, FP/kp Enclo sures Frank Princi, M. D., Director Division of Industrial Medicine