Document v6gzwqbJzKmrao9a2yjw61Oj6

~<ju^Mf 1 writ, im1$' McC Dr. R. M. Andre, Supervisor 'Keciijba. The ;.:;^^Usifl^i/'fe'CMaission of Ohio Columbus 15# Ohio /r (~&~~cs g ~ --.' C&ifPijU*- iLtUtC. t<,a.V*j K ? , * Dear Doctor Andrei A j a .j ^ The reference of the record of 01D. 72927> to me for aa opinion poses a problem which is Quite Embarrassing and cannot be handled in a satisfactory manner in accordance vith the usual procedure. Accordingly 1 am addressing this letter to you instead of making the customary specialist report, and I am not sending a fee bill since non is justified at this time. There is nothing of factual consequence to review in the record, and there is nothing is it whatever, except the unsupported statement cf Dr. Hopple, to indicate that this man suffered froa lead poisoning. Perhaps the opinion is correct, since it is not ispossible that this man was ill in May of 1951 aa the result of undue absorption of lead. This la unlikely, however, even if ha had complete freedom from any occupational exposure to lead froa that tine cm until October 30,, 1951, when Dr. Hopple obtained samples of blood and urine from tMs man and a group of fellow employees of t ext Heather Corporation. 1 say this because the concentration of lead .In the blood and urine of this man on October 50, 1951 was not only within normal limits, but was In the low level of normal values, actually under the average value for persons with no unusual exposure to lead.. It is rare, to tiie point of the greatest unlikelihood, t;hat such low results should be obtained some six months after an episode of lead Intoxi cation which followed upon a period of years of alleged significant occupational exposure to lead compounds. Moreover, the results obtained on fifteen other man in the group of the same plant, aa I pointed out In my letter of interpretation to 12?. Hopple, were such aa to demonstrate that none of them had suffered any recent significant exposure to lead compounds. I have no information on the occupational or symptomatic history or on the clinical status of these men, although it Is our practice to require such information in connection with such analyses, and such was requested. Therefore, I have no basis for interpreting the results, except to oay that all except one (the blood of Dalton Miller} were within normal limits. Moreover, I remarked upon the negative character of the data in relation to the occupational exposure which was apparently under study, and suggested that there must have been case reason for the analyses and some background for the belief that the exposure had been hazardous. Ho information has been forthcoming. I do not like to be used in tills manner, and I cannot avoid the feeling; that  BMftg 2o Oa :Dr. - (2) ~ May 1?, there Is something in this entire situation thav does not meet the eye. In any ease, this claim, as it has been presented, is without support, and unless the Coaaissicn is prepared ...<$ '"& 'f?hysi- ted statement, it would seem justified in demanding ................................ mre to lead on the part of the claimant, before yielding to so great an uncertainty, Hy curiosity has been piqued by these circumstances, j^articularly 5ince it appears that compensation claims have been made by all of the men vhose blood and urine vere analysed in this'laboratory. One may be justified in the doubt that any of these men vere the victims of lead poisoning. Certainly without sons acceptable evidence from seme source of significant occupational exposure to lead, nc such belief is possible I shall be greatly interested id any further developments in this case. It should be investi gated particularly from the aspect of the detailed employment jjer-|^>sa.' i^aX|sfSfc.iiP^LX fesdltd ari f^po?fd: .In; !his record '/ore they ill or away from their regular employment for many months prior to these analyses? If not, that is, if they vere engaged In work which allegedly involved occupational exposure to lead up to, or within some few weeks or months of, life of medical interpretation, since no hazardous absorption of lead occurred. Cordially yours. RAK ef Robert *u Kehoe, M. D* Ke 00164V3