Document a4G3wv90pom0g5LjMbOmDZbZ9

January 3, 1967 Mr. W. Kedzie Teller 512 Ranger Lane Sarasota, Florida 33577 Dear Mr. Teller: I regret very much indeed that I have not found it possible to advance the project in which I engaged in association with you, following our discussion and telephone conversation. I've been involved in a situation of considerable immediate importance in connection with lead in the atmosphere under a variety of conditions, and since this situation relates to ongoing work of more than a little importance to me, to this Laboratory, to the industries involved, and to the health of the public generally, I've had to concentrate on it. This situation would not have impinged unduly upon your interests and those of your clients, but for the fact that Mrs. Kehoe and I have planned to go to San Francisco for the next three months, during which she must avoid the rigors of the remainder of the winter in Cincinnati. I shall have to be in Cincinnati and the East in about two weeks, and I shall return otherwise from time to time, but ray time in California will be taken up most of the time with tasks I've set aside to deal with there. This presents me with something of a dilemna in relation to your problem. I have no intention of abandoning you, nor shall I postpone action any longer than I can avoid, but I need word from you as to the urgency of this matter. My schedule of activities has been dislocated almost hopelessly by the demands made on my time during the past year, by the problems of air pollution in relation to lead. There is a species of silliness in this situation that irks me exceedingly, but I have no choice but to deal with it according to the various moves being made. As to your problem, I visualize the following sequence in my action. I am to prepare a proposal for an experimental investigation, to present it to you for consideration, and then, with your approval, present it in person to Dr. Fitzbergh and his associates in F.D.A. I hope to prepare the proposal reasonably soon. You can expedite matters for me, if you will give me some necessary information promptly. I need to know, in some detail, the composition of the preparations that are being sold (or are to be sold) by your clients. This will enable me to determine which of these preparations is to be employed in the investigation, or how we can formulate the minimum number of preparations for testing so as to obtain information that will apply to all of them. Since this type of planningis wholly crucial to the validity of the experimental work, I shall have to satisfy myself that it is done properly. (Furthermore, I would never consent to explore the toxicology or the physiological behavior of any formulation that was furnished "sight unseen.") Any and all information of this type, which you supply to me will be held, of course, in strict confidence by myself, personally, and will be divulged even to my associates in the work only to the extent that may be essential for scientific and medical purposes. (For example, our dermatological associate will have to know what he is applying (or having applied) on patients for whom he is directly responsible.) On account of the necessity of holding such information in confidence, I suggest that you send it to me, personally, to our private address Mr. W. Kedzie Teller Page 2 January 3, 1967 in San Francisco, rather than to ray office in my absence. I note my full (residence) address and telephone number below. We leave Cincinnati on January 3, and I do not expect to return to Cincinnati before January 15th, at the earliest. With such information as I have requested, at hand, I shall undertake to prepare an experimental proposal (with costs estimated), then clear it with our dermatological and toxicological staff, and forward it to you. In due course, with your approval, I shall go to Washington, confer with F.D.A., and then we shall be ready to proceed with the work. Obviously, I should know what you have in mind in the timing of these steps. Please let me have your response to this at you early convenience. Meanwhile, please accept my best wishes for a New Year in which this and other interests of yours will be developed to your satisfaction. Cordially yours. RAK:wp Dictated but not read Robert A. Kehoe, i.l.D. Professor Emeritus of Occupational Medicine Robert A. Kehoe, M.D. 947 Green Street, Apartment #3 San Francisco, California 94133 Telephone: (Area Code: 415) 474-5724 0023314