Document bEMn427qEyyKo90ezvD5DX8Z
October 14, 1930
Dr. W. P. Edmund, Standard Oil Company of Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio.
Dear Dr. Edmunds:
I received information some days ago from the
State Board of Health concerning the illness of one of your em
ployees, Mr.
Through the courtesy of his physi
cian, Dr. Hildreth, at Akron, I was able to 3ee and examine him
on Saturday, October 4th. I will send you shortly a complete
report of my findings, but I consider it advisable before arriv
ing at a diagnosis, to make a careful study of his lead excretion
in order to determine if there is any factor of lead exposure in
his illness. He has an extensor paralysis, v/ith a complete wrist
drop of the right hand, which rather obviously has a certain re
semblance to lead poisoning. There are certain things in his con
dition however, which suggest that it may not be lead poisoning,
and on account of these facts, plus the fact that we have no evi
dence which would lead us to believe that he has had a significant
exposure, I have not been able to arrive at a diagnosis of lead
poisoning. I am suspicious that v/e are dealing here with a case
of mild and sharply limited poliomyelitis. I have wished to get
this patient under observation in our hospital here, and in due
time I think I will be able to make arrangements to that effect*
I had anticipated doing this at once, but something has occurred
to make it impossible, according to his physician Dr. Hildreth.
I am expecting daily to hear from Dr. Hildreth concerning his
patient, and to know what is his present condition, and what is
the situation which makes it impossible for him to come to Cincin
nati at the present time.
It is unfortunate that we did not have an oppor tunity to see this patient sooner. His condition began on September 2d, and I am quite certain that if we had seen him at once we would have been able to have arrived at a certain diagnosis before this. I have no way of telling just when this case came to your attention, but may I suggest that if and when cases of a similar sort come to your notice that you will notify me at once in order that we may see the patient in the earliest stages of his condition.
Heedless to say at the present moment I do not feel that I can obstruct in any way the presentation of this case to the Ohio Industrial Board for compensation. I trust that we shall be able to obtain such information as satisfies ourselves at least, as to whether or not this is a case of lead poisoning.
Very truly yours,
0003572