Document Rjwp1RraDqL8My18n2Rjx61ba

July 9# 1950 Mr* A* E* Mittnacht# Ethyl Gasoline Gorp.# 155 is. 42nd street Hew York* H* Y. Boar Mr. Hlttnacht* A little while ago our attention m s called to a case of alleged lead poisoning in Winnipeg* by Mr. Fitzgerald. I am sending Mr. Fitzgerald a copy of this letter to you covering the examinations which Dr. Machle mad at my request some days ago* ____________ .examined three men, _ and all employees in 3ard* Garage in Winnipeg# All three men -hqd had Infections of the hands of the type Which-' are not uncommon in garage workers and in the case of other men who have frequent abrasions of their hands. The skin lesions were all infectious and there was no suggestion of any part play ed by lead in their illness* A quotation from Br. Machle*8 re port states* "Lead intoxication was not considered at any time to be a factor in causing the illnesses of these men. The le sions were obviously of infectious nature* The question raised was whether or not Ethyl Gasoline or the deposits left from its evaporation, would be more likely to render tissues more suscep tible to bacterial invasions than would contact with untreated gasoline. Ho evidence in support of this was exhibited by either their histories or the types of lesions shown.!i Considering the rather poor hygienic conditions of this garage, especially the rather bad washing facilities# and in view of the similar char acter of their injury# it would seem that they are the result of contagion. Br. Machle had a conversation with the physicians in volved* These men did not seem to feel that there was any evi dence whatever of lead poisoning or lead injury* I think, there fore, we may regard this as a closed matter* , It is reasonably certain that cases of this sort will arise from time to time# and that they are likely to cause a certain amount of local flurry* 1 do not believe that the ef forts of my assistants# or Ethyl Gasoline employees# or employees of the oil company are likely to be of any considerable advantage in combatting impressions that arise in this fashion. It is opinion that the best way to deal with them is to settle thf^a^e without arguing and let it pass for what it is worth. Very truly yours# f . AK: EJ