Document jB68aZEG5RB7qYg0v02OyMKaN

November 30,. 1966 Mr. A. C. Pabst, Manager Hygiene and Toxicology Medical Department Mobil Oil Corporation 150 East 42nd Street New York, New York 10017 Dear Art: The px*ospect which is revealed by your letter and the attachments is an interesting and promising one. It seems probable that some very useful information could be obtained by pursuing this prospect. There are several matters that would have to be looked into carefully in order to establish the facts concerning the opportunities that may exist for the contamination of a "natural" environment with lead from artificial sources. This, I think will require some expert investigation, and some very close and comprehensive observation, as well, of the day to day activities of the native people. One question that comes up at once is the lead content of the atmosphere, and the occurrence, direction and strength of air currents that my carry lead from artificial sources such as highways and industrial areas. It may not be possible to get much information of this type, but some sampling at selected, strategic points might be feasible. Another question is that of the total armamentarium of tools in the hands of any and all of the people, as weaponery, implements of agriculture, animal husbandry and capture (hunting, fishing, etc.) equipment of the household, if any, as used in the gathering and storage and preparation of food of all kinds (such as, for example, cans, barrels, etc. scavenged from dump and transportation facilities). Included in the survey designed to obtain all positive and negative information of the type indicated above, would be decorative or cosmetic preparations used on hair, skin, nails, etc. Samples of soil, water and vegetation, and articles of food of animal and vegetable origin, in their natural, raw, stored and prepared (for eating) states, should be obtained, in conjunction with careful, leisurely but complete observation of the activities of the people. Samples of feces, composite daily food samples (this may not be feasible), urine (large volume and spot samples, the technique of collecting to be outlined in detail), and blood, should be obtained. Another matter of more than a little importance is that of a history and physical examination. If any kind of communication is possible, a physician should obtain a record of the history of the individuals who provide samples of feces, urine and blood. The sheets which we have used in the past in an investigation of this Mr. A. C. Pabst Page 2 November 30, 1986 type indicate the type of questions that can be asked, some of which might stimulate answers and lead to interesting observations or circumstances. The examinations could hardly be comprehensive, but a number of matters will bo of special interest, such as certain physical measurements - height, weight, state of musculature, and nutrition, condition of eyes, ears, teeth, hair, nails, bodily mutilations, ornaments, clotting, injuries and stigmata of disease (scars, anamalles, deformities). I think I should comment on certain aspects of this possible investigation, by way of indicating some of the shortcomings of presently available information of this type. The issue here is the matter of the exposure to lead which was unavoidable In a primitive representation of the human environment. To what extent has the absorption of lead, within certain well-defined quantitative limits, been an unavoidable feature of human life on this planet from the earliest time? This means that one must be able to demonstrate the absence of every artificial factor from the environment of a population under investigation. Otherwise what one is doing is merely collecting more data on the present state of man, in this regard. Through the ages man has been digging lead ores out of the earth, especially out of its depths, and has been scattering lead about in a variety of forms on the surface of the earth and into its atmosphere. Is there a place on the earth that has not been so contaminated? Ii mineral and processed lead has been carried to all parts of the planet by streams of water and air, or by lead bearing commodities of one type or another, we shall never be able to determine the status of primitive man. But if, on the contrary, there are places and peoples that have been isolated wholly or largely from the spread of lead throughout the rest of the world, we can learn the facts in this regard. Nothing else is worthy of further effort, if the question at issue is to be answered. Something less than valid information will leave us just where we now are - namely, that lead in roan is wholly or largely an expression of the changes in the human environment wrought by man's activities. I woulc^waste a dollar, or risk my own or anyother man's life or health, on an investigation of this type, unless it appears to be feasible to carry out a fairly comprehensive investigation that will answer the basic questions. We have reams of data concerning populations in various parts of the present earth. These are very useful, and in my view, they have answered about all of the pertinent questions, except the one which queries whether the general order of the content of lead in the "normal" human body, as we have found it, is fairly comparable to that which characterized primitive man. Patterson says it is of a totally different order of magnitude, for reasons which I believe to be spurious, and perhaps (probably, I think) he would continue to say so, even if everyone else in the world was convinced to the contrary. We cannot combat him, however, or even convince many others, by merely bringing in more data on population^ whose environments have not been explored and charted realistically. The time for inferences has passed} only fully elucidated factors can lead to.valid conclusions. I trust that what I have said above will not prove to discourage further consideration of this situation. Let me assure you that I am prepared to do everything 1 can to encourage and assist your people (or any others) in a further approach to an investigation. Sincerely yours Robert A. Kehoe, M.D. Professor Emeritus of Occupational Medicine ISO EAST 42ND STREET NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017 November 10, 1966 Robert A. Kehoe, K.D. .Kettering Laboratory College of Medicine Cincinnati, Ohio Dear Bob : This is in reference to our telephone conversation this morning regarding the Motilone Indians and the exciting possibility that this tribe of people living under practically Stone Age conditions might supply useful scientific information on the blood lead levels on a group having no exposure to modern civil ization . The Columbian Petroleum Company (Colpefc) is an exploration and producing company jointly owned by Texaco and ourselves and attached are two write-ups on the Motilone Indians which appeared in our respective company publications approximately three years ago. The natter recently assumed importance when Dr. Landlnez visited us and described the progress he has made in cultivating a friendship with these Indians, As mentioned to you, he has been successful in taking blood samples. In fact, the Indians sort of welcome it because they believe it is removing evil spirits, and in such blood samples. Dr. Landinez found cholesterol levels in the S0Js. After you have reviewed the attachments, vje would appreciate it if you would telephone or write us listing what you consider the necessary requisites in a survey of blood lead levels such as, environmental samples, food samples, etc. l/e in turn will contact Dr. Landinez and obtain full information in this respect. So far, discussions on this idea have been between the Texaco Medical Department and our Medical Department and we do not believe management of either company has been approached with this project in rnind. At this stage, we would welcome your com ments on the merits and scientific values of such a study which would help us promote it with our management, if you believe this to be the case. Very truly yours^ ACP: sj Attachments HB 00123 N14055.01 A. C. Pabst, Manager Hygiene and Toxicology Medical Department IN COLOMBIA GETTING TO KNOW YOU FOR o v er 40 years Colombians have been trying to make friendly, contact with the Motilon Indians. This primitive warlike South American tribe--esti mated to number about 2,500--is still living under Stone Age conditions. The tribe is near the main field of the Colombian Petroleum Company (a Texaco affili ate) in the Catatumbo area of Colombia near the Venezuelan border. Some Motilones have been attracted to a Christian mission on the Venezuelan side of the border, but the members of the tribe have never allowed a non-Indian to mingle with them or visit their communal dwelling places--huge oblong thatched huts. But a significant breakthrough was made this year when a daring helicopter pilot, flying for a Venezuelan petroleum company, set his craft down in a clearing next to one of the Motilon huts. No Indians were in sight so he left gifts and departed. Returning several days later he received friendly greetings. This meeting led to the first peaceful contact between the Motilones and a group from the Colombian Petrol eum Company when Dr. Alfredo Landinez S., Medical Director, was called upon to examine the ailing daugh ter of the Motilon chief. This historic meeting took place at Rio de Oro, just 15 minutes by air from Tibu in the Catatumbo area. The nearly naked Indians were led by a chief of the Goajiros tribe who spoke a little Spanish. The others-- all members of the Motilon tribe--were Chief Astro- gora, his wife Abradara, their 10-month-old daughter Achibara, and two more Indians, who spoke no Spanish at all. They did, however, repeat the Spanish greeting, slurring the last letter so that it sounded like "Buenos diassss." The Indians appeared smiling but somewhat mis trustful when Dr. Landinez examined Achibara. Later, however, when invited to take a short plane ride, they accepted without fear and indicated that they wanted to fly over their huts. Pedro Rodriquez and Victor H. Gonzalez of the Industrial Relations Department of the Texas Petro leum Company, a Texaco subsidiary, in Bogota, Colombia, were on a field trip to the Catatumbo area when this meeting took place and they were invited to go along. Senor Gonzalez apparently made a hit with one of the tribesmen who approached him and uttered a dry "um," then handed Victor his weapons: a bow, a harpoon, and three arrows. When the meeting was over the Indians said their farewell "adiossss" cheerfully enough. Asked when they would be back, the chief replied, sharply, "Never." Only time will tell whether the chief's pessimistic reply will be the ultimate outcome of this meeting, or whether the Motilon tribe has taken its first steps out of the Stone Age. Below: Chief Astrogora of the Motilon tribe watches as Dr. Alfredo Landinez S., Medical Director of the Colombian Petroleum Company, examines his infant daughter, Achibara. Her mother's back serves as the examination table. Bottom: A -portion of map showing Catatumbo area of Colombia, home of the Motilones. tOc 0012394 N14055.02 Left: These four young war riors, pictured with Colombian Petroleum Company person nel, were members of the first party of Motilon Indians ever to make a peaceful visit to Colpet's Rio de Oro base. A Above: Dr. Landinez holds Achibara while her mother, Abradara, wife of the Motilon chief, boards the Colpet plane. Left: Victor H. Gonzalez, stand ing, and Pedro Rodriguez, examine the Motilon weapons presented to Victor by a primitive warrior. HE 00123-35 21 ' 3a ?s ;s 5C 33 S2' f g 39*** o0Va 1< 53 3s * <3 * 9 O a rf 3H*- rAy* aa e* j s-01 a*i* 0s--a 3a*i Furtive Indians Slip from Jungle For4Office Call'on ColpetMedic RIO DE ORO. Co l o mb ia -- After 25 years of extracting arrows from the victims of Colombia's wild Motilon Indians. Dr. Alfredo Landinez finally met --and examined -- some of the furtive jungle marksmen. He prescribed aspirin. Dr. Landinez is medical di rector of Colombian Petroleum Company (Colpet). jointly owned by Mobil and Texaco. The strange encounter occurred last March deep within the dense terrain of the Bareo Concession in Northern Colombia. It represents what is perhaps the most significant breakthrough in relations with the bo-tde tribes since oil operations first began on the concession 40 years ago. x vx j,.ll... spl .V/ lJ X t >\ . r* i \ < ' Since then, at least 40 men have been killed, and another 100 wounded, by the ingeniously barbed arrows of the Motiloncs. Numerous attempts by Capu chin priests, ethnologists, and oil company personnel have been made to attract and befriend the primitive jungle dwellers. Colpet people had on several occasions made air drops of salt, bread, yucca, clothing, and machetes near the Motildn huts. But none of these overtures proved very fruitful till early this year when a helicopter pilot for a Venezuelan oil company landed his craft close by a Motildn dwelling and left a cache of gifts at the foot of a tree. The Colpet "Mapiciati" A few days later, when the pilot returned, he was greeted so warmly by the Indians that he was able to arrange for a meeting between a party of them and the "magician" of Colpet -- Dr. I.andincz. On March 13, fisc Motildn men and one woman with her livemonth-old child emerged from the jungle and made their way to Colpet's Rio dc Oro base, where a health station is maintained. On hand to meet the Indians, whose arrows he has become ex pert at extracting, was Dr. I un dine/. He reportal the results of this encounter in a recent letter to Socony Mobil's Medical Depart ment in New Vink. t.-mg oniy a stethoscope and a foot!,imp - he said he feared any more complicated instruments would arouse their suspicions -- he g-'oc each of the natives a lengthy clinical examination. "The natural apprehension of each of them was cxtieme," Dr. /" Four yotmp: Alotilonrs pose with Colpet personnel at com pany's Rio <1c Oro Imse. Their amicable visit represented breakthrough after 40 years of armed hostilities. I.andincz reports. "Before climbing onto the examination table, they looked carefully beneath it. and then they lifted up the mattress to be sure that nothing was there. "Then they sat down and lay back slowly, as if they were pre paring to jump up at any moment." Their general health was found to be good, though all the Indians examined complained of not being able to sleep due to coughing, ear aches, violent headaches and ab dominal cramps. For the lime being. Dr. Landinez gave the party a generous supply of the 20th Century's most popular balm -- aspirin. He also provided them with other symptomatic med icines such as cough syrup, anal gesic drops for the cars, and antispasmodics for abdominal colic. The worst plague of Motildn life is hunger. They will cat any thing--worms, lice, snakes, even the fearsome c/ //.ere. In periods of great privation, they have heed known lo practice cannibalism. Their agricultural skills are prac tically non-existent. Dr. I.andincz hopes that, with further contact, "we will be able to develop belter clinical activities, and give them agricultural elements such as seeds, and equipment such as machetes, axes, hoes, and picks." Toward the day's end, the party of Motiloncs slipped hack into the jungles as quietly as they had ar- rived. It would take them five nights to reach their native huts. While the language barrier could hardly be described as broken. Dr. Landinez said that the Indians had learned at least two U. S. words. One was "Coca-Cola." a drink they'd tasted that day at the base for the first time in their lives. The other word? "Okay." A Spearhead in Medicine Dr. Alfredo Landinez. a.Co lombian citizen, has come to grips with a host of medical problems ranging from the ar row wounds to less exotic ail ments such as appendicitis and the common cold. Unlike company doctors in the United States, who are pri marily concerned with diagnos tic and preventive medicine, oil company medics provide a full range of care in remote corners of the world. In many areas, if companies didn't provide such treatment, there wouldn't be any. Mobil has more than '00 medical people scattered mcr 20 nations. Dr. I.andincz himself began treating Colpet people 25 sears ago. when he trudged after pipeline workers cutting their way into the jungle. His equip ment: a portable "hospital" strapped to the backs of eight straining burros. Today he directs a modern, SO-bed hospital maintained by the company at its field head quarters in Tibti. His experience in extracting the spear-like arrows of the Motiloncs is probably un matched by anyone in the world. The arrows are four-foot shafts, with intricate barbs that make them critically d.llicidt to remove from a ' ictim. To do this job. Dr. I.andincz has evolved a photic tube that slides over the arrow and en velops the barbs to permit less harmful withdrawal. Since his face-to-face meet ing with the Motiloncs. he hopes he won't need it any more. KE a012396