Document daVybw3Y0Ba7Dywz56ORe3e5B

May 10, 1938 Mr* Lester B# Boberts Caailla de Correo So* 1704 Buenos Aires , Argentina Dear Mr* Roberts *- I have your letter of April 21st concerning the difficulties arising from the examinetions carried out by Dr* Hernandez in the San Antonio plant of Vieafc India Oil Company in Chile* since the receipt of your letter, I have had a letter from Dr* Denno who is the General Medical Director of the Standard Oil Company and who, as such, is ' espeislble for the medical direction of the affaira of West India Oil Company* Dr* Denno inquired about this situation In aa much aa the report made to him merely indicated that two of their workmen bad been found showing signs of lead poisoning* Dr* Denno assumed that these two men were engaged in handling concentrated Fluid and asked if I had received any reports concerning them. He also assumed that the examinations had been made by our con-* sultant* On the basis of your information, I was able to inform him about the situation and I have no doubt he will get in touch with Dr* Hernandez* Meanwhile I think you have answered your own problem by supplying Dr* Hernandez with published Information on the subject of leaded gasoline and its potential hazards* Ihere is nothing further for ua to do at the moment, I believe, and I shall not write to Dr* Hernandez unless I am specifically requested to do so by Dr* Denno* You are^quit right in your belief that microscopic changes in the blood do not provide an adequate basis in the diagnosis of lead absorption. Microscopic blood changes are not specific but may arise from a variety of other conditions of the blood* You are also right in suggesting that the danger of lead absorption is quite considerable among men who work in quarters in which unventllated containers of molten solder are used* Considerable quantities of vaporized lead, which is promptly oxidized, are given off frpm molten solder pots* It is standard practice to carry thepo vapors away by means of a well ventilated hood over these pots* Large-scale solder operations provide con siderable opportunity for lead exposure and one finds In practice that carefully designed and operated ventilating equ'pment is necessary to prevent lead po'soning among men engaged in such work* I do not think tt Is wise for us to intrude Into other plant activities of distributing companies except in so far as their lead hazards may give rise to confusion as to the sources of the lead exposure of men who aife also engaged in handling leaded gasoline# or mixing Ethyl Fluid* It is for this reason that I have taken care to say Sin my instructions to our phystclans# that they should ho careful to exclude from our type of work men who are engaged in other types of lead exposure* Obviously where the opportunity presents Itself to advance the cause of industrial hygiene# I should expect our medical consultants to take such action as may not get them into difficulties in relation to their specific responsibilities to us# Only to this extent no I think Or* Coke might be Justified In looking Into this matter* I have cabled you concerning the appointment of a physician In Saopaulo# and having received your reply# I assume the matter is at a dead end for the moment* I think your Investigations# as reported in your letters of Agril 21st and 26th* are Quit in line with my own point of view as to proper procedure* I recognize fully that you may receive bad information and# therefor# you may be unsuccessful in your choice of a physician* However I think you proceed along the line which we discussed when sue la3t talked hver this matter# end I believe this means gives you the best opportunity for success# Very truly yours# HAKjis co &r* Ctaamplin ____ ______ i kohert A* Eohoe# r'.B