Document pmpY5DD0K5V9XEG74dkDbeeMB

A p r i l `13,1927 Mr. S. Yv. \7obb, c/o The Fthyl Gasoline Corp., 25 Broadway, /lew York, H. Y. My dear Mr* Y'ebb: I am enclosing herewith a copy of my physi cal examination and recommendations up to the present in the case of -r. Claude Boss. X also enclose information as to the present situation of . The record on Hr. BjJB will serve to give my point of view and to furnish the facto in the case so far as they are known in the present. I expect to be in Dayton on Thursday and Friday of the coming week at which time I shall intei^view the physicians who have been caring for Mr. Ross in an attempt to get a statement from thorn as to what they feci should be done for him. Looking at the matter entirely from the point of view of a physician dealing with a patient who is side, at least mentahly, I feel that the worst thing that could be done for Mr. would be to carry him on under the present condi tions or to make a settlement of a sum of money sufficient to maintain him for some time. If he is to recover from what I regard as a serious condition humanly, speaking, it will bo from encouragement and the necessity && dcP^something for himself* Just so long as he is le^d to believe that lie is seriously ill, thot ho is unable to work, and that he will never recover, he will continue in the state of apathy and melancholia which he now shows. I am not certain that he will be cured by the pro per treatment. I am reasonably certain that nothing can be done for him unless he can be le$d to attempt something for him self. I feel, therefore, that a final settlement in his case of a cash sum would be inadvisable at this time, even thoughnit might be found to be necessary at a later time. ' I am not attempting to consider thi3 matter at all from the legal side, but 1 am assuming, as I know I may, that the purely legal aspects of the matter aro not as important as the human and fair considerations. Mr. E* W. Webb April 13,1927 I shall Iceep you informed from time to time as to the course of events in our attempt to straighten out this matter. Very truly yours, KA )D 0021002 History Born at Goshen Ohio, F a m e d until 16 years of age. Schooled through 1st year High School. Employed at Peters Cartridge Co, Kings Mills 4 or 5 years off and on during summers while going to school. Army service at 13 years of ago from 1913 to 1920, Enlisted in infantry. Transferred to Machine gum corps. At outbreak of war went into Officers Training Corps at Ft, Myer, Here 7 months, llon-eoramissioned officer. Hot commissioned. Went into ordinance department in personell work, trailing chauffeurs at Augusta, Ga, Was here until end of war. After war, was stationed in Charleston, W, Va, as foreman in charge of ammunition storage. On being discharged was employed at General Motors Research Corp, as auto mechanic 5 or 6 mo. Test driver 4 mo. Cylinder work on air cooled cylinders 7 to 8 no. Then transferred to General Motors Chemical Co, making Ethyl Fluid and filling containers. Worked thus from March 18 to March 26,1924. Considerable exposure, inhalation and skin contact. ITo warning as to dangers. Illness - beginning March 26. Was not conscious of being ill, but went home and behaved like a drunken man. Had altercation with wife, with police. Came to Cincinnati next day. Becameill on street, taken into Veterans Bureau. Physician there wished to send him to hospital. Wont homo, however, vory ill, and Dr, 0, C. Henderson of 1002 \7. 3rd St. Dayton, Ohio was called. Was put to bed. Was very weak, lost use of legs. Legs were cold ahd numb and tingling, with shooting pains in head and legs and around heart. Slept poorly waking with-start. Appetite was fairly good. Twitching of muscles and jerking of arms or legs. Was at home until April 11, at which time he was in hos- pital. Hospital records show restlessness, sleeplessness part of time, normal temperature, slow pulse. . Returned home after some weeks hut was in bed 13 weeks. Continued to be weak and easily excitable and unable to work. Returned to work at Ethyl Gasoline Plant in September 1924, and was made doorman. At this time my questioning showed him to be complaining of weakness, . shortness of breath, pains in chest, legs and joints, and especially the head in front and transferred to back. Metallic taste in mouth and drowsy- ness. Since this time his condition has shoxvn little change. Presant Complaints. Drawing pains in forehead and down back of head and neck. Joints are dry and ache, especially in wet or cold weather. Sleeping poorly, awaking often with a start, cmscles twitch and jerk, both asleep and awake. Condition worse after exercise. Arms and legs and even back get cold, numb and tingling. Has no sexual desire and is impotent a large part of the time. Often no desire for 3 to 4 weeks at a time. Eyes give trouble at times, and hair is falling out. Family History. Insignificant except for history of insanity back some time. Previous history of illness. - Nothing significant. Denies gc and lues. Physical Examination. Patient examined by me early in 1925. Condition at that tine no different from present except that color is improved, temperature now nor mal, (then 97.6) and pulse and blood pressure are now higher,(then 52 and 100/60 respectively). A 3 Well developed, well nourished, healthy looking young nan, with good posture and good muscular development* Hair is plentiful on head, sparse on body* Skin of good color. The man shows a general apathy and depression, although he is ready with answers and is apparently willing to give his entire story freely. It is impossible to arouse any enthu siasm or appearance of enthusiasm about any subject. Temperature 99.2 Pulse 60 Respiration 20 Eyes - React to light end accommodation. Tremor of lids. Sclerae clear and white Ears - Ho abnormalities Hose - Obstruction on left side - reddened mucous membrane on both sides. . Sinuses - Very slight darkness of left frontal region on transillu mination with suggestion of darkness on left side of face. ?ace - Coarse facial and labial tremor at times. Inconstant and increased with eyes closed. Throat - Congestion and muscular irritability of pillars. Tonsils are small and chronically inflammed. Posterior pharyngeal wall reddened shoxving lymphoid hyperplasia. Lymph nodes not obviously abnormal. Chest - Bulging of right chest anteriorally at costo-chondrial junc tion from 4th to 7th ribs. veil muscled. Liver dullness at 5th I.S. Diaphragmatic excursion 4.5 R, 5.0 L* Expansion slight. Breath sounds are increased over entire lower right chest. Ho adventitious pathologic sounds. R.S.D. 7.5 R.C.D. 3.0 x 10.5 Apex rate 68-70. Sinus arrythmia present. On hopping 50 times the apex rate is increased to 84, returning to normal in 1 minute. Blood pressure sitting 120/70 both brachials. Poly graphic tracing of radiol. Apex and jugular show no abnormalities beyond variation in entire rythm (sinus arrythmia) ' i Abdomen - Ho abnormalities found. j Gontalia - normal Cent.N.S.- Superficial reflexes Increased. Tendon reflexes variable - generally feeble but occasionally strong. Khomberg negative* Ho hyperesthesias. Ho abnormali ties of sensation. Tremors as hitherto noted with also coarse tremor of hands. hito Count - 6000 previously 5600 . Red count - 5 million*- previously 5-1/2 million Haemoglobin - 90 Talg. Polymorphoneuclears - 66$ of total leucocytes. Urinalysis - Alkaline to M.R. Albumin - negative , Sugar - negative Acetone - negative nicroscoplc - negative Volume 2.%3 $~ cc Pb. found .OS' Pb/ liter o.ois The findings (or the lack of findings other than suggestive neurological ones( suggest that the total injury in this mans case is of mental sort. Uhether or not the mental state is due to poisoning experienced years ago is impossible to determine from the examination. The following procedure might produce information (1) An interview with his wife might disclose some facts as to whether he has experienced some change in personality and when this occurred. 'whether he had dif ficulty of a similar kind before. (2) Information might conceivable bp obtained from army records or from officers under whom.he ha3 served. (3). Information should be obtained as to type of work and behavior while at General motors Research Corporation. Treatment:- Because of his total lack of Interest and the dependent and boresome character of his life, predisposing to melancholia^he should be encouraged to work and attempt to restore himself to normal life. Every encouragement should be given him that he will recover and that his im potence and weakness will disappear. Ilis fear of death and continued in validism, encouraged by what he has been told, should be combatted. The matter of disability compensation should not be settled until he has had a period of trial and mental treatment, and under no circumstances should he now be given a sum of money as disability pay ment# This purely from the point of view of his welfare# The Ethyl Gasoline Corporation should hold itself in readiness to compensate him when, and if, it be shown that he has an unconquerable disability* Intaview with wife and physicians indicated in order to obtain understanding and cooperation# K f 0021008 1t Concerning Hr. I have investigated the facts in his case and they are as follows:- He has received no wages from the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation since April 3,1925* His wages were discontinued because of an award made by the Ohio Industrial Commission of several hundred dollars. This was for compensation over a period* during which his wages had been continued by the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation, and was, therefore, supposed to be paid to the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation* H o w e v e r , ' u s e d this money with out giving information to the company, a n ^ ^ ^ ^ t h i s reason his wages were temporarily discontinued* agreed to this arrangement. I.inre recently a new award ha^ o e e n made by the In dustrial Commission at the rate of 18.75 per week beginning July 22,1926 and running up to March 1,1927. TheEavton office has received no information of this from Mr. but has been so informed by the Ohio Industrial Commission. Ho movement ha3 been made, therefore, by the f/ajrton office to reopen Mr. flajjjj case with him, and it is my feeling that matters should lowed to take their own course until such a time as he shall made further claim upon the company. At a time when such claim is made, If it be made, his case should be reopened and he should be given careful examination and some decision arrived at as to what should be the subsequent treatment of his case* K'f 0021009