Document x5am4Rqmg8kGGDpNxKEORajJG

June 4, 1929 Mr. Josiah Stryker, Lindabury, Depue and Paulks, 763 Broad St., Newark, II. J. Dealt1.Mr. Stryker: '\ ; I am sorry hot to have answered your let ter of May 24 sooner but I have been on the run for several days and have only had an opportunity to get at my correspond ence today. ; The matter of questioning any of these men for the purpose of determining the existence of symptoms of tetraethyl lead poisoning is a somewhat delicate operation. The symptoms of acute poisoning are very well known to these men and, in fact, are available in medical literature. It is my impression that they will make the mistake- of describing their symptoms as being like those seen in the acute cases, whereas their exposure has been of such a sort as to undoubt edly be more like the ordinary symptoms of chronic lead poi soning, if such symptoms are really, existent at all, which I doubt. If they are feigning illness they will have a-tenden cy to describe all of the. symptoms v/hich are well known and wily probably admit the existence of any symptoms which are presented to them in the form of leading questions. I should therefore start out by asking them to describe the exact thiikgs from which they, are suffering. In the case of any symptom mentioned I should try to find out when this symptom first appeared, how severe it was, whether it has disappeared or is still existent. This I should do without comment or without assistance. When this information has been obtained I would then ask questions which wi|.l bring out the presence or absence of the following things ihich are. of importance. Loss of weight; weakness and loss of energy generally; loss of pppetite, especially in the mornings; a sweetish or metal lic taste in the mouthj boring cramps in the stomach; weak ness or paralysis of the muscles of the hands wrists, especially ''drop wrist", a condition in which the muscles which extend the hands are unable to be used. I should fur- the^* find out whether these men are married, something of their sexual habits with the idea of determining the exist ence of impotence, and whether or npt any of them have child ren born since the onset of their illness. -The questions on these points should be interspersed with a considerable num ber of unimportant questions such as the type of food they eaty their habits of sleeping, their type of dj.et, etc. These latter matters can be put into a number of detailed, pointed questions which will,have no significance in themselves but whih may be used to divert the attention of the person under Josiah Stryker #2, June 4, 1929 examination from the important points which you wish to find out. The matter of loss of weight is of importance. I should find out this by asking the subject what his heaviest weight was, and when, then I should find out what his weight is at present as near as he gives it, and ask him if- he has lost any weight at any time in the past year or two. The matter of stomach cramps I should find out about by asking ; whether the subject has ever had indigestion, whether he has been kept awake by it at night, whether he is troubled by / constipation, diarrhoea, or similar ailments. I have simply used these items as illustrative of a method whereby you can find out all you wish to know without letting the subject know what you feel to be the important signs and symptoms. It would be well also in your questioning to find out some where along the line as to whether any of the doctors who have examined these men have made microscopic examinations of their blood. The determination of lead poisoning would be difficult to substantiate in the case of these men unless somebody has found evidence of microscopic changes in their blood. It would be well therefore to ask them if anybody has examined their blood. In the same way I would ask them If anybody has made chemical analysis of their excreta. I would ask them also something of the details of the treat ment which they have been given, not that this will be of any great consequence to you but It will give them an idea tio describe how seriously their illness has been regarded by the|r physicians. If they have any. I tru^t that this will give you some idea of the manner In which I think it would be best to approach this problem. Very truly yours. RAKjEJ KE 0017057