Document dwq20Rpe0kBB0QxDqjmbjOo9

-- .. .& O. H. SCHAEFER. GEN ERA L m a n a g e r . CC Mr- C. W. Bond Et h y l Co r po r a t i o n Ma n u f a c t u r in g a n d Tr a f f i c De p a r t m e n t PL E A SE A D D R E SS R EPL Y T O -C H R Y SL ER B U IL D IN G 4 0 5 L E X I N G T O N A V E.,N EW y o r 'k c i t y December 29* 19^2 Dr. B. A. Kehoe College of Medicine University of Cincinnati Eden & Bethesda Avenues Cincinnati, Ohio Dear Dr. Kehoe: I appreciate very much your letter of December 22 regarding the report that I sent you under cover of my letter of December 15. We await your further comments after you have had an opportunity to develop this subject. Very truly yours, 3-2 He 0001014 December 22, 19^2 Mr. John Schaefer, Ethyl Corporation, Chrysler Building, hew York City. Dear Johns I have your letter of December 15, together with copy of Mr. B o n d ts memorandum. To some degree, I share your opinions aha those of Mr. Bond, concerning studies of this kind. As a matter of fact, it is extremely difficult to devise any methods "Whereby precise information can be obtained in a study of this type. I have no, direct knowledge of the manner in which this work was done, and I was not consulted about it when it was started. This is not surprising, 3lnce al most any doctor in charge of such a group of men might he *expected to make some observations of this type, if he was quite certain that it could be done without any risk to the men, and particularly, if he was sure that their morale would be somewhat improved thereby. The problem of the common cold is one of the most difficult ones to deal with in industry or anywhere else, and the willingness of the management and physicians to make a study of such a problem is something which is likely to he appreciated by the men. I imagine that the cost of this series of observations was -negligible. In fact, I imagine that the vitamins were contributed for the purpose. In any case, I know that du Pont is using certain vitamins more or less routinely a n d .that these are being pur chased at very low cost. In all probability, Dr. Gehrman and Dr. Foulger are responsible for these measures, and if it is their opinion that they are generally beneficial, we should have to have very good reasons before undertaking to oppose their recommendations. I shall look into this entire matter on my next visit to Wilmington, when I shall see both Dr. Gehrman and Dr. Foulger.; I shall also discuss the matter with Dr. Evans, ai the Dye works plant,and Dr. Sanford, at the Baton Rouge plant, and will report to you anything of consequence that develops. Incidentally, and for your own Information I should be very greatly surprised if we were to find subsequently that the vitamins have a specific usefulness In preventing or curing common colds, except in the case of persons with definite vitamin deficiencles. 0001015 er, k J . H. SCHAEFER. g en er a l , m a n a g er . Et h y l Co r po r a t io n Ma n u f a c t u r i n g a n d Tr a f f i c De p a r t m e n t CC Mr. C. W. Bond PL E A SE A D D R E SS R EPL Y T O i-C H R Y SL ER BU IL D IN G A O S L E X I N G T O N A V E .,N EW Y O R 'K C I T Y December 15, 19^-2 Dr. B. A. Kehoe College of Medicine University of Cincinnati Eden & Bethesda Avenues Cincinnati, Ohio * Dear Dr. Kehoe: I am enclosing herewith copy of a memor andum of December 4 received from Mr. C. . Bond concerning the results of the vitamin study made at the Baton Bouge Plant. ) I rather agree with Mr. Bond's opinion that the system used in conducting the tests is not very trustworthy to produce accurate data. Among other things, I wonder on what authority such tests are undertaken. Of course, you know Ethyl foots all the bills for anything in this nature and we had never been contacted as to the ad visability of such an undertaking. I thought perhaps you might have had some knowledge of this. If not, you may care to do something about it. Very truly yours, December 4# 1942 l-iemorandum t o : Hr-, J . If. Sc h a e fe r In a c c o r d an c e w it h y ou r memorandum o f Decem ber 1 I am a t t a c h i n g h e r e t o cop y o f a r e p o r t o r i g i n a t i n g i n t h e cu Pon t h o sp it a l con co r n in g th e r e s u l t s o f t h e v it am in t h e r ap y st u d y co n d u ct e d from Jan u ar y 1# 1942 - ilay 1 , 1942. You w i l l n o t e t h a t t h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s t e s t a r e very in co n clu siv e and i t - i s ay p er so n al opin ion th at th e sy s tem u sed in con d u ctin g th e t e s t d id n ot perm it accu m u lation o f t o o a c c u r a t e d a t a . I am s o r r y fo r t h e d e l a y i n fo r w a r d in g t h i s r e p o r t t o you b u t i t r e q u i r e d some t i n s t o l o c a t e a c o p y . CW Bses 2nd. C (f BOND He 00010 1 7 KESPLT3 OF VIUAIIIH. STUDIC About: January 1, 1942, a program was started and carried on until Kay 1, 1942, to study the effects of multiple vitamins on the Incidence and duration of colds* the Organic Chemicals Department and Kfchyl Corporation employees cooperated in this study* 470 employees returned their quostionairos at the end of the period, the groups consisting of 235 who had received multiple vitamin capsules, manufactured by a reputable pharmaceutical company, and the remaining 235 who received no special medication. The results were, as follows: Group A - those tairing vitamins Group B - those not taking vitamins - l\ BU Average colds per person 1*28 .1*07 Average days duration of each cold G.67 7.03 Total number days lost due to colds 73 89.5 Total number Blost time" cases 13 17 Severity (based on days lost per case.) 4.00 5.20 FTequency per cent of colds (based on number of lost time cases compared with total in group) 0.310 0.380 Frequency per cent other conditions than colds 0.863 0.970 0001018 Vitam in S tudy It. would appear from this particular study that vitamins have little effect on the incidence, duration or severity of colds. There are several factors which may, however, havo in fluenced our results. ,, 1. This study was not begun until January, which is during a usual peak cold period in this community, thereby not permitting any time for building up a possible reserve. 2. In the group taking vitamins were a number who had mar Iced susceptibility to colds. It was noted on the quostionalrea that the group taking vitamins felt better, subjectively, than the other group. tfC 0001019