Document bOyw4kQNE2K71DQ6e1ppDE8Z6

February 14, 1925* Dr* Alioi Baalltoai School of Fublio Health, Harvard University, 60 Tea Dyke Street, Boston, ass* Dear Dootor Hamilton 1 am very glad to receive your letter of February lth with referenee to the subject of tetra-ethyl lead and in reply to attempt to explain to you briefly the sequence of events to date with referenoe to this matter* Several years ago 1 was informed that a corporation intended to nee something of this eort and began to Initiate an Investigation as to its possible h&rmfulness* 1 as informed, however, that the Bureau of Mines was about to undertake a similar Investigation and, of course, took no further steps* Some months ago X reoelved a letter from Dr* Tandell Henderson oailing my attention to the use of the substance and suggesting a conference* 1 addressed a letter to each of the persons when X oonld ascertain were interested in this matter asking for advice as to whether they considered a conference advl*efeiii4$$ whether the present was an opportune time* The majority of the answers were to the effect that it would be better to postpone the conference until further investigation had been made by men working along this line* Several days ago X reoelved a letter from Dr* Henderson enclosing a copy of a letter which he had written orltloielng the technique used by the Bureau of Mines in their observations and a somewhat similar letter from Dr* Haven Emerson with reference to the natter* 1 at once took the matter up with our scientific division and appointed the first vacant date, which is next Monday, for us to further consider the subject of calling a conference and X shall be glad to communicate with you with reference to our decision* X personally can see no possible objection to a round table discussion of the whole matter and shall again take up the question of a conferonce with those interested* X am extremely gratified that the Oarage Workers Union feels that this Service would conduot an impartial investigation and more that you feel the same way about it* X hope that you had a pleasant and profitable trip to Moscow and X would like very much to have an opportunity of discussing your trip with you* Sincerely yours. Surgeon General