Document jyD5p45gy3aVBm3G9G81nqEMZ

ton CARBIDE AND CARBON CHEMICALS CORPORATION P. O. BOX 471, TEXAS CITY, TEXAS r. (Hmm*) Dr. A* 0. Kaaner ctmpty south Charleston Plant * November 21, 19l*9 Original Drgt. /tnnrial !*Hl Mt Cw ***** History - Robert E. Saunders Dear Dolph: Enclosed you will find a case history on Robert E. Saunders. Host of this history has been elicited now that the events have run their course. 1 was not aware f the symptom of repeated diarrhea which actually was not Mentioned to we until August of this year. Frankly, I*a not sure that this case history has any slgniflcenc whatsoever. The evidence Motioned way be coincidental. I pass it al ng merely as food for thought and with the idea perhaps that this may be of significance but we are missing the boat. Very truly yours. uUu,M.D' ***** received tyQV 5J3 ^49 0. KAMMER. ucc 00491S HISTORY ROBERT E. SAUNDERS - Medical #Ui93 - Operator at Gas Separation.- Age 23. This man reported to work at Carbide December 31, 19ii7. He was hired for operation activities in the Vinylite Area but was started at operating training in th Butanol unit. About the middle of June, 1?U8, he was transferred to his regular Job in the Vinyl Chloride Stripping Unit. Within initial six months period this man gained weight from 168 lbs. to 192 lbs. inspite of employment on shift work. About two months after starting to work in the Vinyl Chloride unit he began to have episodes of diarrhea and about one week later he was admitted to the hospital for an appendectomy. Symptoms of diarrhea persisted following the appendectomy and on September 20, he was allowed to return to work without having mentioned the existence of the loose stools. irn.On October 6, the employee attended a fire squad dinner and consumed about twelve bottles of beer during the course of the evening. Early th the morning he awoke with ' ^a^laevere diarrhea and repeated spells of emesis end was admitted to the hospital for A Aobservation on October 7, 19U8. During his hospital stay he ran a fever between 10h and 106 for the first tea days. There was no Jaundice, liver was slightly enlarged, and odorless liquid stools occurred et fifteen minute intervals day and night for the first three days. Bacteriological studies of the stools were negative for pathogenic studies including Amoebae. On October 28, he wee discharged from the hospital with a diagnosia of liver abscess. In v opinion this is an unproved diagnosis. Following his discharge from the hospital and return to work, he continued to have abnormal stools in the form of unformed mushy evacuations sometines as often as five to twelve times a day. After a ten day to two weak period of such stools there would come a time interval of three to five days In which there would be no evacuations and then there would come another period of soft stools. His evacuations would be particularly soft whan ha warn working on the aid-night shift. During the strike period from the latter part of Jamary to the first part of Kerch, there was considerable Improvement in the number and character of bowel movements. Following the return to work in Kerch, the frequently mushy stools reappeared and continued until July 28, 19U9, at which time ha was admitted to a hospital for UCC 004917 diagnosis because of continuing diarrhea. Detailed studies including bacteriological examinations and x-ray studies revealed no significant abnormalities and he was discharged August 19, 19U9 with diagnosis of an enlarged liver and irritable col n. Abnormal stools continued unabated inspite of repeated therapy. By this time the body weight had decreased from 192 lbs. to 155 lbs. Upon his return to work on August 19, the Medical Department decided that it would be unwise far this man to continue working in the Chlorinated hydrocarbons because of a history of enlargement of the liver. Accordingly on August 21, 19U9, he was transferred to the das Separation Unit as an operator on shift work. Two and a half weeks later the patient reported the first appearance of normal stools since the strike period early in 19U9. At the date of this writing, November 20, 191*9, stools have roaained normal and the employee has gained weight from 155 lbs. to 162 lbs. Examinations performed following absence from work never revealed any significant physical findings and the presence of continued diarrhea or unformed stools was not mentioned until August 19, 19li9. C. U. Dernehl, M. D. November 21, 19U9 ucc 004918