Document RyGq55O6JK6vn07Z91RqmrDz

FILE NAME: Metropolitan Life (ML) DATE: 1944 DOC#: ML224 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Dr. Wheatley's Surveys at Asbestos Mines in Quebec TRIP TO yXTKEAL, AiT=I"T?r, tl! If, rciECC Oct-ber 16-OcVber 21, 19U PUP-MI To lore tfet rtsatas fop the high tuberculosis nrtality ret in Thctford tines; To confsr with the ^feretor of the esbsstos nines !n Thtf"rd c.-nccr-lng the establishrent of an *ndu~trial fcetlth clinic In Thetfrrd Vines} To visit Opouc o-licyholdere in X-ntiesl rlth to*. Perry and hr. **inl, Mr. ?`*nel t~ maV* industrial hygiene survey of Asbestos sills ir, IsVesto* end Thetford. yiGRTPICiKT LFSLLOlfNTf AXD ggSlMTAtnig z * tferaafoMy.t s i j & t . i t e f l i . 1. Provincial Esalth Sepertaest to provide us eith ege-soectfle nertality rates for tuberculosis by sex for pest eight years in Thetfard, iit ft i and six comparable communities in addition to Poainion sad Provincial rates. 2 Sr. Burnette to secure data for us an health services, character c f population sad living coalitions In the eosmuaities for vhich mortality d*ts is being eecured. 3 local physician* end nuns s t Thetfard Mines hospital believe asbcstas dust contributes to tuberculosis. X . Thetfard h o srltal, b u ilt is 1930 has 150 beds--T5 devoted to tubercu lo s is . Excellent, nodem surgical equipment and basal setsbolisn apparatus T-rey machine 100 mlUlamperes and 20 years old Mo ZK8 About 50 tuberculosis patients in the hospital about 50 psrcoat nale. 5 Thotford bag 115,000 hsalth budgot County pays 10 psreent, Provincial government pays tbs vast On* full-tim e health o ffice r, fir. B lais, and five parttime nurses are employed Follov-ar on tsberculoets i t poor The nurses lecV adequate training. Sr Poley, the Provincial Epidemiologist, thinks there are 10 unknown casts for vary known open east (ho Insists that the unknowns are n*t open cates) 6 fir Sirou, the physielaa in chart* f the Thctford Vines hospital tuberculosis servica, believes msWstosla causes tuberculosis although, according to Mr (a ln w U , he has mrittaa and publicly stated tha contrary 7 U viag condition in Thctford have improved in recent yearn* Mr. *ehsel who visited Thetfard in 1930 and 1939 observed the improvement Viet Chews, the Metropolitan Vurse, finds homes in Thctford hotter than hones is parts of Cuebee City t. Asbestos eoapanies in Thctford have no health informs* e their voxfcmea Only date may he em ASS claim forma * 9. In Johnson*s Cosoany? new el11 * cocr-n tin drinking cun Is still used. f1is was obferred and ren-rtad by Mr. fahaal In 1935, 10, Zr John.-J*rrille ciar.t health service has teen ealntelaed for years with tr, ctcver.sor. in charge, It , faith has Jut been ccoloyed to arslet hi* Dr. Salth was ith the Alueinu* Ccsaany "'f Canada on foreign narricr. There la a soall but fairly well-,ruir'ne<i ho-oitel and health record* on #nnl'~e* extending orer a ner!d -f yet.rj. It 1* hoped to enlarge the tnsoital faclJitir? soon and int*ll nrHer x-ray eruipoant. Zt m i reeos*ended that a new s-achine be at least 303 ciUlarperts and oreferaily 500 in orcar to aacure adequate cheat fllaa for a*cest-*ii. 11 In Aebestos, Dr, Smith said the tacidenea of tuberculocls appeared to be In the yoonc s**l~yed In the weaving and spinning mill, Operations era ary dusty. Personal hygiene, living habits, end nutrition of these girls in his. o'inW*, ere poor. Plans are under way to haw* a nutritionist des^ftrate proper lunchss and the preparation ofother eeals, Mr, UcGaw was interested in securing all the health education materials cf the Metropolitan ablch alyht help in this Industrial situation, Sew ventilating equiraent is baing installed in the spin- r.ir.r and eavlnr sectl's. The electrostatic nreelritator which collects the dust fron the various ooerctions is working about 75 percent efficiently, aainly beeau the Increased teapo of operations is overloading it, 12, At our suggestion, the three nasagers of asbestos nines in Thetford agreed to invite the laboratory nan fron Dr, Tourenseau1* industrial hygiene deperteent in the Provincial Health Ceoartaest to visit Thetford and work alongside Mr, Pehnel in asking dust collections. This invitation was estendod by Mr, Sabourin legal rapraaantativ# of the Asbestos Producers Association, to fir, Tourangeau when we ealled on the latter is Quebec, 13, Me suggested th,t the effort be nedc to have the C^eoencation Commission insist that x-rays, takas t*> dexoastrete-aSbestosls, be sad# by a standard technique and that, if*o'sribla, diagnostic criteria be established. Mr, abourin thought It would be possible to have n eoaalttee on asbestosls cade up of Canadian and American wadieal authorities sectlln Montreal and formulate eueh standards. He ales believed a clinical syspoeius on asbestosls could be arranged, to which practicing physicians in coneuaitles near the esbestoe industry would be encour aged to attend by paying one-half of their expenses. Or, Gardner and Dr, Lasse were authorities mentioned to speak at this aycn-aiun and for sesbershlp on the Coaslttee on Aibestoeie, . R* Industrial Health Clinic lr. Thetford 1, The ostabllebaeat of n dinie le a legal requirement In the asbestos Industry, The government has recently ruled to allow the industry to establish its own health servien, 2, Throe caspealee have agreed to spend about #60,000 ta ateVlisb the clinic. 3 The position of full-tiaa industrial pfayslelaa will be offered to pr, Tsui Cartier whoa Z aat and lsterwlewed in Montreal, If he aecept# ho will start at once to plan bln prograa end secure eqalpeeat. I 5 Dr. Cartier, or *h'*v<er le anointed to to -- itt-'n, ill hs.*re freed* and ?1030 yearly for orofasal-r.al study and travel. Vlrltw ir. Montreal 1. Eadlo O m - r a tl-n f Canada [ula. Hr Kau'wan critical of Thf criticise has Veen M.L.i* passed Medical Fxtsiners or M H folloa-up. *n to Dr. Bractte (see Fwhillt A). I/f) b Alcrraally hlf claie rate in nt6lo*<urcbly *ectl*n her there arc 90 percent fsales. Causes-- neurasthenia, weeknesr, *atirue, aneeia. c. it Kir* ehnel* s^cocseadati*a, veatilatlcf hods hare Veer, provided on operatives Involving soldering' tae ill sake rechacV surrey* 2 Charles F. T r u it t and Co* a* leaning health servie for esoloyees* rent Ir* Loxinnky, Director of Perearch and ir chare of developing servie, descriotion of servie for nail plant (inhibit B). h* Observed several working loeat'aas Acre dust cad drug concentration in ataosThere night be hasard* (Mr* Pehnel arrange te visit and sake survey*) 3 Congress of Tndustrial Physician This le a group cf about 2$ physicians eaplsyed in industry around Montreal* fir* Crahcs toss, of .National reveries, is president* Mr* Phnl and Z sooke to this gTMJp on the work of the Industrial Hygiene Bureau end son* postwar pr*hl*M in industriel sediclne* Sr* Bess would like Metro-- 11tan industrial hyglaae llteratura ehleh would be appropriate for these nhystciaas* (Dr* Burnette has bean Informed.) TM Tvir'JALg *rt ru^ra tf.i? P.dt~ C*ro*rt.ti-r rf Ctinad Kr. Leec-r;t the ne President Kr. UcCellus* Personnel Director Cr* Kaufetn, Medic*! Director Dr. H*>uiseeu, eftty Director Cherlc 1. Prosat end Cecaanr *liot 5. 'rosst, rcrident Kr* heen, lest kane;cr Pr. Lotlnaky, director of Feseerch Asbest* Cgrwretlon Kr* Kebert Fteele* President, Montreel Kr* Alfred erhalt, manager, Thetford Montreal AnV-Ta^ercuIostr Lee cue Tr. Paul Certier listlMial Sreecrlee Dr. Graben r.;n, Vedicel Director Alurlnue Co*anr of Cenada Sr. Fildfell, tfedicil Director Asbestos Producers A?*elation cf Cuebec Kr* Teen Sabourla Mr. abourin sede arrant*m o te ith the three operator* in Ihatford Vince end 1th the Johas-Maavllle Pleat is Albertos for us to inroect end sake duet aurreys* He alec took us la hie ear on the trio freo Montreal to Asbestos to Thetford to Cuebee* esc beck to Vor.treel, end . assisted ue in nesting offlciela in the Proriccial Health Capertsent la Suebee City Johns-yan-rllla Kr H S. fterry, Manager Kr KeGe, Director of Industrial Felatlens Or ftteseasoa, Vedicel Oirector Or talth, Assistant to or Ptesensca Johneona Cncoans Kr. Andre Johnson, President PtlLIlMI Hr 0 jC Seith, President Or Pirca, preeticlnc nhyeldea la Thetford Hines flee Ghees, Metropolitan Kurse, end la addition the Pieters la eherfe of the hospital in Thetford end e aunber of the Pleat Superintendents end Engineers la the to x r sines hlch ere lnepeeted. ':-uelc Health Denartecnt . aul Perret, ftctlsticiu . A. F. Foley, Provincial leie::iol'';i?t J e w Grgoire, Deputy Sinister ef Health and *elfere . Julep Clibt-rt. Director ef Health Icucitlon . F, J, Tourangeau, Director cf Induetrlal Hygiene Cngsunlttes for Thlch Indorsation on Tubrculo?! IsrUlttr tad Keelth Conditions Chlcoutiai Ceo de Madeleine St J e u St Hyacinthe Pinaueki Pallyfleid Asbesto Thetford i > t Dr. Roman L, Burnett* As.latent Secretary Canadian ?.etd fric# October 25, 19U \ Dear Rimant *our quest! 'enalr* regarding eousuaity h*lth services and liv< ne conditions, which you planned to *nd t? th* Bursts in coa-uaiti* in which wc art caking the tuberculosis natality study, raachtd ae today. T think It covers everything w* talked about Saturday and ehnuld fivt us th* necessary lnforaetisn. If it scene necessary and we are in doubt ab-ut conditions it nay b* possl'- l* '"or a* t* nak* an lnaoecti->n visit later on. I assume fro* your letter that y*u can secure the Indorsation fres a trusted source known to y-*u In P.lnouskl. If you are In doubt a K t a source to Asbestos, I teliave T can secure this isfonat!' thr-mgfc cr. Seith, th* aasl.-tent to Cr. Stevanson at Canadian Johat-k*nvtll* la Aibaatos. I haw* several questions which Z did not taka up with you on Saturday which relate to ey visit. (1) Or. Orhas Host, Radical biraetor of Rational Braveries, Sfantreal, was inter.tad in cur industrial health notarial. V* haa about 25 physicians la his professional organisation which he end Or. Midfall, Radical Director of jtlunlnua Coosoay of Canada, are organising. Re could use 25 conies of anproprlate literature for these sen. Oo you base curdles of our Industrial Health Series end do y*u w i * to supply Or. *oss witv then? (2) Xr. C, K. HeCaw, la thargs cf Industrial Relations of Canadian Johns-kanviUa, Asbestos, Cue., is taterwsted la hawing health education notarial for educational work with their endeyecs la Asbestos, they have tweens quite active in safety education and new want to turn to health education. Re wanted to h* curdled with `the health education notarial ieh we have available* Do y^u have liter ature you can send hint If net, hat do you wish do&sT I night also station that Rr* HcGaw raised the question about nursing sendee. He said that the lwnressloa had b e given then that they would bave urging service then the insurance wae purchased. I explained that ee provide nursing service where It is available and thut would not necessarily follow the contract. Ida perhaps know the background of t H s and you nay wish to say somethlag to bin. In connection with the nursing service, I gave Hies Qteas the senes <f the nangers of the two nines ww instre in lhatfbrd, Hr. 0. C. Smith cf th* Ball Rinas, and Xr. Andrew Johnson, cf Johnson's Rina. 9h* is planning to call on than this week. * * (3) Xr. Ivan Sabourln it also Interested in Retroeolltxn health liter ature. I shall arrange to nut bln on the statistical Bulletin wailing list, but a in doubt as to chat you prefer to do about other health literature, would i Dr. i.'oraaa S*umtte Octnler 25, 1941 . ysu prefer to send hia nateritl in whteh you think he would ** Interested through the Heed Office or Id ,ru wish us t o do sot fthtle T ss et iCA la Canada I set Cr. 'ufiiea, Kr. SJcCallus, end UT, Rousstiuj Uedleel Director, Personnel Director, and Safety Director respectively. Their clalsi rate, as you know, is running currently around 10 aer 1,000, according to data which they hare at band. Peak ** reached during August, which was a-re than talca this rata, I bell*re._jpr Kaufcan does not believe that these Talas are all for legitimate 11 .ness. He is particularly critical of the oart olayad by the Coepeny Medical Ixaxinere In dale edelotstratlon 8# said they era poorly trained for their work and their follow-up visits did not aid in the control of calingcrlcf. Be stated that the Coaoany should saploy laboratory diagnostic tests such ss Mood exaalnatioa, x-rays, etc., to check uo on vagus diagnoses submitted by attending pfayeieien. The predoalnant diagnoses are neurasthenia, weakness, aaeda, etc.,* and oceur aa-ng the female earloyees, particularly in the rsdic assesbly deoarteent, which hat about 90 percent fassies. In Asbestos ST. ftevensoa, who is the Johns-kanvllle Physician, Is slso Pedicel Ixasiner for the Conoeny Be eentloned that eaol^yees were busing their A4H Insurance He has talked with local hysicians ab-ut their signing of certificates and their excuse is that they are aeconaodattsf the patients. One of the attending physicians suggested that the Company print in bold letters on the f*rn, which is given to the attending physician to fill cut, that the insurance is not intended tc sever vacations, rest periods, etc . I did sot know whether this cones within your urevince, but X thought that I would pass it on to you to do whatever you see fit Sincerely yours, George 1U fhectley, M.D. Assistant Kedical Director