Document OEXp7M9mQ4eekOo6kmZGvQbyv

copy Irfer-office Correspondence ETHID GABoLIHE Cu k r Ok AXIOH ..lurch 11, 1931. i/.r. T. E. Ronan Dear Tom: Re- Waterbury Ethyl - Poison Regulation In accordance with your instructions I went to Waterbury yesterday to investigate the Poison Regulation of the local Board of Health. The Board of Health of Waterbury has the power to regulate by city ordinance any matter they feel falls under the heading of public health. Dr. Kirchbaum, of the Board of Health, is the man behind this movement against Ethyl Gasoline. He has had two cases in the last year that he has diag nosed as lead poisoning. One, a airs, kontsnzi, the wife of the local Coroner, and the other a Waterbury man now living in Hew fork City. Tetraethyl lead immediately fell under his suspicion as the source of contamination, krs. montanzi, as I understand it, rides entirely in.a chauffeur driven car and has no contact with motors. Dr. Kirchbaum is one of the leading physicians of Waterbury and has a very high reputation locally. From a general viewpoint, he is more or less of the crusading spirit attacking anything that might, in his mind, be detrimental to public health. His ordinance of Ethyl was passed and adopted on December 1, 1930, and appeared as a public notice on January 10th. On the same day he passed regulations on wood alcohol, and later, I understand, on electric refrigerators. He informed Mr. Barrowsi the district manager, of the standard uil that he has just started and is now going into the mill dangers in Waterbury. Inasmuch as the wealth and livelihood of waterbury depends on the brass industry this shows clearly that the Doctor will stop at nothing if he thinks he is right. He has not contacted with any of the local oil companies selling Ethyl whose pumps are marked with our regulation warning sign. He has, however, been pushing the Atlantic Company whose pumps are marked with the old type red warningsign labelled "Ethyl Gasoline11 and in which the word "lead1' is not emphasized. From what I could pick up I do not believe our medical department ever contacted with Dr. Kirchbaum. I did not call, officially on the Board of Health. There was no article in back numbers of paper accompanying this legislation. I am attaching official copies issued of tne regulations of the Board of Health and newspaper copies of the ordinance. NOTICE PUBLIC HEALTH REGULATION ETHYL GAL REGULATION 1. Each filling station sha^l keep prominently displayed on each pump which delivers motor fuel containing tetraethyl lead, a sign or signs reading as follows: POISON CONTAINS LEAD "TETRAETHYL" and Is to be used as Motor fuel only Not for cleaning or any other use Avoid Spilling. Tne printed matter on the sign, not counting the enclosing border, shall measure approximately 6f inches wide by 7f inches high. The first and second line Poison and Contains sha^l be in letters 5/4 of an inch high, the third Lead in letters 1 inch high, and the remainder in letters 7/16 of an inch high. All words of the sign shall be kept clear and prominent, the entire sign to be within the limits of 5 feet and 4 feet above the ground level. Such a sign shall be maintained on the face of each side of the pump at which delivery could be made. S. Suitable leaflets shall be available for distribution on request at all filling stations where ethyl gasoline is sold. These leaflets shall describe the possible dangers and precautions to be taken in the use of ethyl gasoline. 5. Containers of ethyl gasoline sold to consumers shall bear the following label in such a position as to be plainly legible when the container is opened: POISON CONTAINS LEAD (Tetraethyl) and Is to be used as Motor fuel only Not for cleaning Or any other use Avoid Spilling. , Passed and adopted by the Board of Commissioners of public Health December 1 1950. Attest: Edward B. O'Donnell, City Clerk f'g' 0021944 N22828.01