Document jNE0MbrqJXK6DpwEN190LoYo2

L NORWICH, NEW YORK March 13, 1950 Dr# R. A. Kehoe Kettering Laboratories College of Medicine Cincinnati 19, Ohio Dear Dr. Kehoe: Many thanks for your advice in the question of the lead ointment tubes. I have passed this on to our packaging engineer. I am sending you separately a bottle of our latest product, Foralamin, an antihistaminic^and enclose a folder on this. You might want to keep this on hand in case you develop symptoms of a cold. Those of our staff who have used it find it does appear effective in aborting colds. Its low incidence of side reactions and absence of a benzamine linkage, which may be the cause of agranulocytosis, are points in its favor. Sincerely, jf Enclosure R. ------------Medical Editor N13164 March 3i 1950 Dr. R. J Main, Medical Editor, Eaton Laboratories , Inc., Norwich, New York. Dear Doctor Main: I have been delayed in relying to your letter of February 10, and I nope I can give you some information on your question. First, let me say, that the use of lead tubes for the purposes indicated is net very good practice. The very fact that such questions can be raised as those which have occurred to you, introduces a certain amount of liability into the situation. In my opinion, if is much better not to allow these questions to be raised. During the war tubes made largGybf lead were used for a number of purposes which would not ordinarily be sanctioned. However, the effort was made to coat these at least on the inside, either with a layer of tin or with some plastic material which x/ould prevent attack on the metallic tube. This is good practice, in my opinion, and anything less than this should be discouraged. Despite what has been said above the opportunity fox- lead intoxi cation, as a consequ^c^fi^'aSi^Siad^ial through the skin under the conditions referred 'to in your letter, is almost,if not quite, negligible. The absorption of inorganic compounds of lead through the skin even in.the presence of wounds and contusions and abrasions, is practically non-existent. Therefore, if it is quite certain that a material introduced into one of these containers is to be applied on the skin only, there can be very little question of hazard. I would have no fear that ouch an actual hazard would exist, but I still say that it is bad practice, since the question can be raised, and it Is very difficult to prove, in the individual case, that a claim of injury made on this kind of cause, is completely invalid. I think it would be unwise to allow the question to be raised in connection with food materials, tooth pastes, various other materials of that kind, including therapeutic agents. It is always a pleasure to hear from you, and I hope that if you have any other questions that I can answer from time to time, you will not hesitate to let me hear from you. Sincerely yours, RAK ef N13164.01 Robert A. Kehoe, M. D. February 10, 1950 Dr. I'. Kehoe Ko( D'< f 1 >>C laboratories Col logo of Medicine Cl nr I'inn tvi 19, Ohio D(i;u- i>r. Kehoe: ab.-nt !->ad. It happens that we vPn y?Ur San9r09lty to ask your advice coll >l>aLble tubes for ointment* T USe ln ataLmm bv chain of drur store- n`i Hoivever> V93T recently we were asked suppllnh us vdth lead tube- P0 1C? Aments for them and they ' , tv,an ,TPTO il'"*. bo aolsd that xn these new tubes that "oivd./r which I would^Ie-s <^s{5olored on bhe inside a grayish oin!nnnhs include such things ^ad ?arbonate` Since tthheas-e aid ointments containing ,a^salfonamJde.^tments and certain first ... , ,, t,c. and bercn,- , Vv lrd IlUX't'ures f zinc oxide, essential oils I ';,u*wondering whether^ther^i CUld b applded to opsn v'onnds and burns, i;;,V t31!Of course , ' -f* possibility of lead poisoning from wonUI actively react with lhrief ' placed in a lead tube which Ho you haonen + -> , ' dead since this would soon destroy the "a tS th literature vhch ' 1>3 lo a danger m such practices? You maybe sure that can i o I I- >:ie* " ` H be mst appreciative of anything you I l-h best regards, I rjn Sincerely, I il... J, Main, Fh.D. Medical"' Editor N13164.02 KE 0012508