Document aBJN03ErE35KrYpLva28kOgy

JMcN.AW, KALQOORLIE. 11*th July, 1961* Dr* B. Hunt, 37 Ord Street, WEST PERTH. Dear Dr* Hunt, i. i. Thank you for your kind letter and report on: Mr of Wit^enoonu j X agree that a diagnosis of asbestosls cannot he established on the strength of the X-rays alone and am naturally pleased jto have that opinion confirmed* He had never been formally diagnosed as suffering from pulmonary disease* Because of his length of !time in the industry and the minimal changes at both bases In 19&CJ as compared -with his original X-rays it was considered advisable to warn him of the possibility of developing industrial chest disease so that he would avoid unnecessary exposure to asbestos and silica dust* As you know,-the diagnosis of asbestosls in the early stages is extremely difficult and-must often be presumptive*. A normal Chest X-ray does not exclude it ana the presence of asbestos bodies does not confirm it* The inaccessability of Wittenoom and its distance from the commonly accepted ancillary aids to diagnosis make it even more difficult. Under ordinary circumstances there would be no urgency and it would be better to wait a year or two before suggesting a diagnosis*affecting a workers health and livelihood. Dust control at the mine and mill at Australian Blue Asbestos was and is bad* Workers have developed asbestosls and silicosis with gross clinical and radiological signs and grave disability after relatively short exposures. Failure to advise a worker that there was some doubt about his ^-ray and delaying a decision for a year might expose him unwittingly, to half as much dust again* The diagnosis might then be certain but the effect on his health disasterous* Histological proof of many of the diagnoses made, haB been obtained frompost-mortem material and from sections obtained at lung biopsy and during pulmonary resections. A few weeks ago post mortem on a man aged hi years, who had worked for 2 years only in the mill at Australian Blue Asbestos (19U9-50 confirmed that he had a malignant pleural mesothelioma and pulmonary asbestosls and silicos: A pretty shocking finding in a modem industry. yY V. An unforseen, tut highly beneficial by product of the warning to Mr. a has been the alerting of ,the C.S.R. to the grave health hazard existing in there subsidiary company and a real, effort is now being made to improve conditions. ,i I Have to go to Darwin on Monday, 2iith July *61 , return ing Via Wittdnoom to examine workers, j I would very much like to s/se you arid could, perhaps, call at your rooms by appointment, on Ifonday afternoon, 2Uth July* I would like to see Dr* Merritt's v-rays. One of our difficulties is that the! Mobile X-ray Unit filming at Wittenoom cannot produce technically, perfect and con sistent Chest X--rays. I ! Attached are a few recent reports which I prepared on the health of asbestos' workers. X don*t wish to bpre you, but I am grateful for your interest. ! Kind regards, j Yours faithfully, i J. McNulty MINKS MEDICAL OFFICER