Document Qmvkaxzp1rqRvVQ6ZDxOQeN5

jgJfflP' , *' \l. i.- W i :- ': id;:A,' v C * ' J\ h. VVV'^-i `V - i ootb 9r " - *, 'w -. ' v' Dr* Keith Fairley 107 Colline Street Melbourne* Australia 5 ` Dear Dr* Fairley1 ,, >r I hare Just returned from .d;trip.of ' V.,-,../yy Investigation into the manner of safely spreading the \ ocaraeroiftl activities of the Ethyl Export?;,Corporation in the European countries* Until a shprfe tla ago yviryyy'", business operations of the Corporation;in'Austrtklii- - . were handled through the London office* end sll &attera including medical supervision were in theory* at,least* . the responsibility of Mr* Sevan, fche.:;ioaon,0 aamerolal^ representative. It now develops that it vraore logical to handle the entire .asfcter through the Sew *rlt office* , and in as ranch os I am personally and profess1anally ,;y;;,yyyV responsible for S^assdical natters related, to. the per tiepr of the lew Xork office* I have become interested in obtaining as much Information as possible about the developments In Australia* and in asking contacts with Mr* Tegner* and with yourself* ; ; >4,;.y ,.y '' I have very -reason to believe that, there. - - is nothing in the present situation in Australia which ' . - requires my immediate attention* On-. the other''hand* it-, ,, aeras-to me qultd comeiv&bl that y o u a n d l jaayprofifc mutually In ok-degree. -from acquaintance with each -other - even through correspondence* It la certaln tlmt l can profit to the extent of at least k n o w i n g i i i a f c questions, if any* are rising and just what is bolhg done in this connection In all parts of the world in which % have at least a nominal responsibility* Accordingly I should be , very happy, if you wouXdoammunicafce with me and-let me - . know Just the manner in which your wort?'.]!* being carried out at the present time* and especially if- there are any questions which have arisen in which I can he of any asaistance to you* X shall be very glad to acquaint you with our general program both in this country and abroad In providing for entire safety for workmen engaged in mixing Ethyl Fluid with gasoline* and X should be glad also to give you available information as to the eteps which m are carrying out in this laboratory in following questions of public safety which re involved in the distribution of lead<*oontaining gasolines* " . :, :. t . . ... .: . There is one point to*.Which reference was mad in the last report of Dr* Dedham bout which I would. . - * 2 * like to Make Inquiry* X shall not give the exact quotation but I noted that Dr Dedham stated that his department as concerned In a measure frith cheoklng the safety of men , h; employed In the mixing operations* His words ere to the effeot that although no oases of lead poisoning had developed among these workmen there were evldenees that acme degree of lead absorption was occurring* X am not quite eertain as to what evidences of lead absorption he may have been referring to X assume that he probably meant that some of the men so engaged were showing basophilic stippling In their blood* H have been following a representative group of these men In the United States over a period of years since 1926 and in addition to blood examinations on all men we have followed the lead efccretion of a representative group* The results (f our analytical examinations indicate beyond any reasonable doubt that the lead absorption of these men is insignificant* How* if the equipment used for mixing in Australia is equaled in excellence with that . used in America'* and If the regulations for the promotion of safety In Australia are adequate there should be no more hazard in this occupation other than there is here* ` X must therefore question the meaning of Dr* Badhaxn1a remarks In his report* and I wish to know as much as I can without making a trip to Australia at the present about the manner in wnich the whole program is being handled there# I shall enter into correspondence with Mr* Tegner to obtain the facts and details as to the equipment and its handling* but I will be very much pleased if you would let me have the results of your experience and If you will give me your opinions nob only on the safety of the present activities but of anybning which In your opinion might improve conditions granting that there is any need for improvement* I am particularly anxious to keep in touch with all of the medical men who are concerned with this problem not only because It is my responsibility to do so# but also because X want to make sure that the experience which we have had and the facts which we have been able to develop by a rather extensive experimental program are made generally available and useful* Cordially yours# RAKiXS Hobart A* Kehoe, M.l).