Document wDd447n1NoRm7mgEaORRNEoB3

December 18, 1920 Mr. 1. S. Hammar, 2119 Railway Exchange Building, Si. Louis, Mo. My dear Mr. Kammar: We have considered the questions in regard to lead poison ing which you suggested on your visit to Boston, together with other aspects of the lead problem which did not come up in our informal meeting. As a result of this deliberation it does not seem feasible to suggest a restricted program of investigation to you, since any sort of restriction implies the acceptance of conventional ideas relative to lead poisoning, and we are in agreement with you that the scientific and practical require ments of the situation demand an absolutely fresh point of view and unbiased attach. What we should like would be to attack the lead problem as though no previous work had been done, feeling free to go over the ground as though it had never been broken, carrying out such laboratory experiments and clinical;investi gations as seem expedient to us, and reporting these in medical periodicals which carry authority. In order to carry out such a program as this, at least three years would be required, and the increase in personnel and general expenses would demand an outlay of seventeen thousand dollars (317,000) a year. The tk facilities already in our possession and the resources which able us to use, Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Drinker ation could be gathered which would become standard in the field of lead poisoning. Should you be in sympathy with undertaking a thorough and protracted investigation of the type suggested, you will find us ready tp accept the responsibility for the work, but unless the project is to be of major character it does not seem to us that enough can be accomplished to justify the effort expended. Very truly yours. Dean Yfc' > O' -'-