Document b504OQ81DX1zvkBGQ1vkjpKp6

Dr . Do u g l a s Do n a l d 938 Da v id Wh it n e y Bu il d in g DETROIT June 24, 1922. Dr. Cecil Drinker, Harvard University School, Boston, Mass. My dear Dr. Drinker:- In the past three months I have been particularly interested in a series of cases of lead poisoning which we are getting at the Receiving Hospital in Detroit. I am trying to work up a series inasmuch as they seem to present some un usual points of interest, and I will be very glad of any sug gestions you can give me. These cases practically all come from the Briggs Manufacturing Company which makes bodies for automobile companies, principally Fords. In the process of painting the bodies these men are employed to sand-paper the third coat, I believe, and apparently take no precautions against lead poisoning. It seems to me that something should be done to force the company to protect their employees in a better way. Most of them are ignorant negroes and apparently are in no way compensated for their illness. If you can enlighten me on how to go about gett ing the Briggs Manufacturing Company to care for their employees carefully and also, if you can give me any points in regard to investigating these jgLa^es, I would be very pleased. One fur ther point - would you consider it justifiable to give a patient small doses of lead acetate in order to determine when the stippling of the red cells commence and possibly when the lead is excreted in the urine. Trusting to hear from you soon, I am, Yours very truly. TAWTWUO'i 'WOS03M *Q ,