Document v6M6p79E842d19gKxkdmvdEw

January 22# 1957 Dr* Florent Coste3 ifl Ruo Cardinet Paris - 8E Franc' /#/ 1 . Dear Doctor Coatess I am very grateful to you for your full letter of December 2ij.fch# and I am very glad that you feel that you can handle medical matters in France without any assistance at present, I quite agree with you that it is much better for you to keep this in your own hands as long as you find it possible to do so. Your whole procedure as you have outlined it in your letter seems to me to be quite adequate and quite satisfactory* Moreover I shall be very much interested in seeing the published results of your observations over this period of years. I have gone over the recent article of Desoill and Valentin on the status of the Ethyl Gasoline problem. Although they have paid undue attention to seme of the early results, especially those of Flinn# their resume on the whole seems quite fair and adequate. However I think an article by you would be a much more useful contribution to the question than theirs is,since yours will be the result of obser vations made in France while their discussion was of necessity concerned more with things done elsewhere. As ';bv$he! analysis of lead in urine and the selection of a person to do this work, there la a greatr-deal* -.In recent years the methods of lead analysis have been very greatly improved, and it is now possible toselect methods of analysis fcith a high degree of accuracy. From a point of view of diagnosis# chemical pithods have reached an entirely adequate level* On the other hand the present state of knowledge as to the available methods is not too gCod in most medical centersi I feel quite certain that adequate facilities arid personnel can be found In France/ At present# however# I am inclined to believe that action In this connection should be post poned for a time* I say this for the reason that it seems how quite certain that a manufacturing plant for tetraethyl Dr, Gosfce lead will be constructed within Prance, and within a very short time. This will either be under the control of the French government, or more probably it will be operated by some agreement between the Ethyl Export Corporation and a French chemical manufacturing concern. Routine lead analyses will have to be done in connection with plant control methods and I should consider it highly desirable to engage for this work some laboratory with whom we here could work in collaboration, and at least there should be such contact that the results obtainable there can be adequately compared with our results. At the same time this is done, arrangements can be made to have lead analyses made in connection with your work. My personal feeling is very strong that this should be done in some one place. It seems quite probable that I shall have to be in France this coming summer, and if so I shall get their fairly early and one of my first jobs will be to look into this question* Obviously I shall require your assistance and advice In the matter but I feel quite certain we shall b able to work out a mechanism whereby you can obtain the assistance which you require, and whereby at the same time we can obtain results which we can interpret in relation to our own work. At that time I can discuss with you your general plans of approach, and I am sure the work will be interesting to you and to me, and useful in the solution of our general problem. If there is anything In your situation which makes this matter more urgent than It seems to me, I would be glad if you would write me on receipt of this letter and let me know whether my suggestion meets with your approval. With kindest personal regards. Cordially yours, RAK tIs Robert A, Kehoe, M*D,