Document X8ND5r07NrdbaboMRv53zk0g

08/14/91 16:53 NESS MOTLEY 002 OWENS corning FlBERGLAS corporation INTRA-COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE Newark, Ohio >< Action From Subject u D, Burch - Toledo Dr. C. S. Bishop - Netfark November 9, 1556 ce: Mr, R, B. Orepps - N `Jr. J. D. Black - T As you requested, X have gone back through my files and my memory eo far as X can, for the complete picture of the Corvette body experi ment so far as I have been associated with it in connection with the Saranac laboratory. My first association with it cams at the request of Mr. Clayton Sucker and Mr. John Andrews in April 1?$U, when the original experiment was contemplated. At that time there was some discussion of taking other manufacturers of fibrous glass in on the experiment as co-sponsors. As I recall it, the three who entered the project were to pay % of the expense each* We first met with a Dr, Ms*d and another physician from Saranac Laboratory, whose name escapes me new. At that time it was my under standing that the experiment would cost in the neighborhood of $30,000,, but I did not at that time see any figures, nor did 1 at any subsequent time that I now recall* Dr. Schopsre says in his most recent letter, "You will recall that a deputation from Owens-Corning visited us hare in Saranac Lake in June 195^> after X had drawn your attention to the error". X do not believe that we knew at that time that the experiment was being conducted with Calcium Sulphate, This is the first contact we had aver had with Dr, Sohepers. Thai* would have been no reason for any of us to authorise the continuation of the experiment with Calcium Sulphate filler. X do not know exactly when I first heard that Calcium Sulphate filler was being used, but I think X do remember that Dr, Sohepers stated he would go ahead on his own expense and continue the experiment for his <xm satisfaction. When w did find out that Calcium Sulphate was being used, both Mr. Morrison and X rsobnnended that the experiment be started again with Caleitm Carbonate and that the Calcium Sulphate experiment be discontinued eo far am we were concerned. Again, we were to pay the cost of the Caleimi Sulphate experiment to that date since it was presumably the corporation's error In sending the Celsius Sulphate to Saranac. To the beet of my knowledge, we did not agree to pick up the expense from this point on the calciun sulphate experimental animals. !EUIN My next contact with Dr. Sohepers was in February of 1?55 when I attended a seminar at Saranac. At that time I took him a small sample I Year 6 Month* EXHIBIT .... ....... WHY WILE THIS? --------------- --....... .................................... 01 501 1569/ PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT 08/14/91 16:54 NESS MOTLEY 003 Sfr. V. D, Burch ~2- November 9, 1956 of Filmglaa (not allied}. 1 had been asked to see what he thought of it u a material, In a general way only, as to Its general appearance and potential hazard. I did not In any way authorise or Intimate that he should conduct any experiments on this small sample, nor do X believe the sample was adequate for any experimentation. X understand through some error that at a subsequent date, some milled Filmglas was sent to himj X knew nothing about this until It was an accomplished fact. Experimentally, he instituted seme intra-ocular and intra-tracheal experiments on some exjierimental animals with this latter material. In his letter of November 2, 19$6 he llBts this as an item of l,17h, which he suggests we should pay. it that time I was told the Corvett body experiment was progressing "satisfactorily." My next contact with Dr. Schepere was In September 1955 at which time Mr. Valter and Mr. Tyler 5- Rogers had him to a meeting at the Granville inn with other fibrous glass manufacturers. He intimated at that time that there might be same potential hazard to the Corvettfc body material. He specified that it was apparently not caused by the glass alone nor by the resins, but by a combination of the two and that he would let me know about ite future progress. At that time X had him address the licking County Medical Association and invited interested physicians from other Adjoining county societies to attend as our guests. He made no mention of fibrous glass other than as a safe Industrial material and talked, at my suggestion, more about the work done at the . Saranac Laboratories then anything else. Neither did he mention at that time that he feed had articles published on the former work that had been done at the laboratories. These articles, published in an obsnure medical Journal, as you'well know, could have been construed as being very unfavorable for our small diameter fibers. X next sew J>r. Schepere in January of 1956 when ur. John Black and I visited the laboratories In an attempt to get a qualifying statement from him regarding the published articles. As you knar, that visit was not too successful. We discussed the progress of the Corvette body experiment with him, and he was more optcmletlc generally than be had been the previous September. Ns mentioned additional studies that he would like to have, and' the repetition of atm of the studies in which the animals had expired from causes unknown to him. Vs did not authorize any additional experimentation of any type at that time, nor did we intimate that the corporation would approve any additional expenditure. I next saw Dr, Scheperw in Nay of 1956 in New fork City. At that time X was accompanied by Or, 0. A. Sander of Milwaukee, Wisconsin who is a well fcnewn authority on cheat diseases. Dr. Schepers agreed with the points of qualification which we brought up and discussed with him, and said he would send me a qualifying statement. Again, aa you know, none was forthcoming. At that saas time we talked with him about the progress of the Corvette body experiment. He wee quite optcmietic about it. Hd brought up the matter of possible studies on Filmglas, but I told him (end with some truth at that time) that the corporation felt that the poesihb future market for this material would not bear the costs of experimentation, and so far as I knew, nothing would be dons in the immediate future* At the time of the New fork City visit, he mentioned that on his own initiative he wee conducting sene experiments on monkeys and was in the process of repeating some experiments on rabbits aneot the Corvette body material* 01 501 1569.S" 0B/14/91 16:54 NESS MOTLEY 004 He. D. U, Burch November 9, 1956 Slnca no lettor was forthcoming, visited Dr, Schepers late in July 1956 at Saranac lake, New York. At that time, with a big assist from Dr. Francis Trudeau whose association with the laboratory must be something in the nature of a business manager, I secured the signed statement from Dr. Schepers that you now have. He was progressirely optomistic about the Corntty body experiment, but mentioned that he would like to inau|urate some studies on experimental animals with ft-1 tubercle bacillus, expose them to inhalations of Corntty body dust, and then treat them with antibiotic and chemo-thorapeutic agents to see what the outcome of treatment would be. He mentioned again that he had, on his own initiative, conducted some experiments on monkeys with Corvettebody dust and had repeated some rabbit experimentation. I said that I would recommend to you that the R-l tubercle bacillus experiments be authorised by the coepuy. This I have done orally and by letter to you. Since the Corvette body experiment was due to be concluded, I called Dr* Trudeau for an itemised statement of expense of : (1) the cost of the respective R-l tubercle experiments. (2) The costs of the experi ments which Dr. Schepers had Initiated on his own. (3) The cost of any future experiments which Dr. Schepers felt might be of value in con cluding the experiment. His present latter does not answer my questions. This, it seems, is true to form* I am to ee Dr. Schepers next week on Wednesday, November lb with Jlr. Ray Crepps. At that time I feel that we should press for a con clusion of the experiment, and an early written report and publication of the data, if it can he construed as being favorable to us. It seems to me that Dr. Schepers ie either a very forgetful individual or that his oral statements are to be taken with some skepticism. His most reeent letter only serves to heighten this impression. If I can in any way further clarify this matter, please let me know. CSB/bd 01 SOI 1568.06