Document xzvabOo4BD6gx2eE69emX55jJ

S3AIH0HY TONOI J,VN atu iv aaonaoaaau COLLEGE OP M EDICIN E D EPA B TM EN T OP PU BLIC HEALTH E . P . MCGA M P B E L L , P H .D ., M .D . E M E R T B . H A T H U B B T , P H .D ., M J5. JA M E S S. W IL SO N , M .8.,M .D . K O SM A 8E L B E B T , B .S ., H .N . L . H . V A N B U S K 1 H K , B .S ., M .D . THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY W .O . TH O M PSO N , PM 8H IB B T (jZ. <s- Qxj^ . Csui 192_3 GOLUMBUS February 7, 1925. Dr. R. R. Sayees, U .S. Public Health Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D .C . Dear Dr. Sayers: I have just received two letters from Mrs. Grace M. Burnham, Director of the Workers' Health Bureau, New York City, one con taining the details of a severe criticism of the recent o fficial report on the tetra-ethyl investigation. In this,apparently, Dr. Paul Raznikoff, formerly associated with Dr. Aub, has assisted her. To my mind the criticism is very largely a lot of misinterpretation based on inferences contrary to fact which can be easily answered satisfactorily to any impartial person. Some of the points are undoubtedly worthy of consider ation and are due to curtailing the details of certain parts of the report. I have suggested to Mrs. Burnham that she send a copy of her criticism to you and also to Mr. Fieldner. Also, that she an<^if possible, Dr. Reznikoff, visit the experiment station in Pittsburgh for first hand enlightenment. Having noted that the New York Health Council has permitted the sale of ethyl gasoline and tetra-ethyl lead under certain restrictions, Mrs. Burnham now fears that attempts w ill now be made to extend the sale of the products and wishes to discredit the report of the U. 3. Bureau of Minos and hopes to get the backing of Dr. David Edsall and Dr. Cecil Drinker and perhaps Dr. Haven Emerson, as well as Dr. Yandell Henderson and Dr. Alice Hamilton in so doing. On this point I have strongly advised her to go slow and that the present report of 8 monthsstudy is only a preliminary one. Also that According to my personal observations, several more months continuation of the experiments have failed to disclose evidence of lead poisoning or.other intoxication. Therefore, she should pursue the safer polioy of presenting her criticisms and waiting for the results before undertaking more questionable procedures. Her second point is to have the Surgeon-General appoint a conraittee of investigation "to air this whole matter in an impartial manner". In this she wants to see that ^abor is represented on the commission. I have informed her that such constituted my opinion to the Surgeon-General, after the reports of three or four investigations were published provided they showed any evidence of hazards to the public or employees. f I am writing similar letter to Mr. Fieldner. every accomodation possible to satisfy various critics. I would suggest Yours very sincerely, Emery R / H i y h u r s ^ m!d