Document yp67Z3Ne1002jkR8BVV8B15Or

OOPT, From Macassar To Batavia-Centrum Letter R-490 N o v 88. 1937 File 46 MAOROBERTSON AIR RACE KOEPANG While Mr. Tonckens was at Koepang, he had our pump mechanic Mr. Kuen do the transferring o f Stanavo Ethyl Aviation Gasoline from 70-liter drums to 200-liter drums, during which Mr. Kuen was most care ful to use rubber gloves, etc. However, he used no protection for his face and breathed in the fumes. The result was that he became sick and had to return to Macassar prematurely arriving here November 21st. We sent hi m to Hr. Goedbloed and this doctor confirms that Mr. Kuen has lead poisoning. We have advised Hr. Goedbloed to teat his blood, etc., and now Mr. Kuan is taking injections. - Mr. Tonokens was most negligent in allowing people to handle this gas without using cloth masks and we have advised our Koepang agent again to use cloth masks end rubber gloves, and to wash the skin promptly with kerosene should this gasoline spill on to their body or hands, etc. We think there is a distinct danger in Koepang, with ignorant natives and our Chinese agent handling this gas in future, and we enquire if just ordinary gauze is all right to put over the mouth against fumes of Ethyl gas# Mr. Kuen will be O.K. in a few days. Mr. Tonckens had specific instructions on this problem end has read the correspondence by Mr. Tracy (letter Hongkong/Batavia No. 1986 of July 25), Dr. Schoenlebor's letter of May 2 addressed to Mr. G e G. Walden, of which we have a copy, as well as Mr. M a y 's letter No.705 of June 1st on the question of handling Ethyl Gas and its dangers. '* SWF/TAN S. W. Fadden - Attorney.