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March 12, 1924.
Dr. Cecil K. Drinker,
c/o School of Public Health,
Harvard University,
55 Van Dyke St.,
Boston,
Mass.
Dear Dr. Drinker:-
Some days ago, Mr. J. A. Singmaster of the New Jersey Zinc
Company was good enough to call your attention to a problem that we have
at our Plant.
He informed me yesterday that the situation interests you
and I am, therefore, sending you this brief sketch of the situation.
We manufacture phosphorescent zinc sulphide that is used as a base
for Undark radium luminous material. The final product is the zinc sulphide
combined with very small amounts of Radium and Mesothorium. The radio-active
element is measured in micrograms, the amounts varying in different grades of
materials. Otherwise the material is the same. Undark powder sells for
$1.00 to $10.00 per gram. I am mentioning this since the price limits the
amount of radio-active element that can be used.
For a number of years, up until 1919 or 1920, we maintained a large
force of operators girls - who applied Undark to watch dials, hands, and other
articles. The process is strictly a painting operation. The powder is mixed
with tree gum adhesives and applied by hand with fine brushes.
Some time ago, one of the operators developed a jaw condition which
later became a necrosis, and the young lady subsequently died. I am told that
this could have been caused by phosphorus, tubercular infection, or other tooth
condition.
We use no phosphorus whatever in Undark. It is a highly purified
zinc sulphide and contains microscopic traces of impurities which make it
phosphorescent.
This is principally copper.
Late last year, another operator developed a mouth condition which
at first was thought to be similar. I understand, however, now that the girl
is very much improved, indicating that the condition is not progressive in this
instance. I have also been informed that her family have had considerable
tubercular trouble.
Those whom we have consulted can report nothing to us in the literature
on these subjects that would indicate any form of poisoning from zinc sulphide.
Nevertheless, we must determine definitely and finally if there is any ingredient
or if the material is any way harmful.
Mr. Singmaster tells me that you are willing to consider this
problem and I gladly seize the opportunity to write you and am having sent
to you a few grams of the zinc sulphide. This will be despatched to you
direct from our Plant in Orange, N.J. He tells me that you expect to be
in New York in April and I hope to see you at that time. It would be akward
for me to come to Boston during the next week or two, but I shall be guided
by your wishes in this matter. If you would like to have a talk with me
before coming to New York, I shall of course make it a point to see you in
Boston.
Yours truly,
ARoeder-HM
President.
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"ocrText": "March 12, 1924.\nDr. Cecil K. Drinker,\nc/o School of Public Health,\nHarvard University,\n55 Van Dyke St.,\nBoston,\nMass.\nDear Dr. Drinker:-\nSome days ago, Mr. J. A. Singmaster of the New Jersey Zinc\nCompany was good enough to call your attention to a problem that we have\nat our Plant.\nHe informed me yesterday that the situation interests you\nand I am, therefore, sending you this brief sketch of the situation.\nWe manufacture phosphorescent zinc sulphide that is used as a base\nfor Undark radium luminous material. The final product is the zinc sulphide\ncombined with very small amounts of Radium and Mesothorium. The radio-active\nelement is measured in micrograms, the amounts varying in different grades of\nmaterials. Otherwise the material is the same. Undark powder sells for\n$1.00 to $10.00 per gram. I am mentioning this since the price limits the\namount of radio-active element that can be used.\nFor a number of years, up until 1919 or 1920, we maintained a large\nforce of operators girls - who applied Undark to watch dials, hands, and other\narticles. The process is strictly a painting operation. The powder is mixed\nwith tree gum adhesives and applied by hand with fine brushes.\nSome time ago, one of the operators developed a jaw condition which\nlater became a necrosis, and the young lady subsequently died. I am told that\nthis could have been caused by phosphorus, tubercular infection, or other tooth\ncondition.\nWe use no phosphorus whatever in Undark. It is a highly purified\nzinc sulphide and contains microscopic traces of impurities which make it\nphosphorescent.\nThis is principally copper.\nLate last year, another operator developed a mouth condition which\nat first was thought to be similar. I understand, however, now that the girl\nis very much improved, indicating that the condition is not progressive in this\ninstance. I have also been informed that her family have had considerable\ntubercular trouble.\nThose whom we have consulted can report nothing to us in the literature\non these subjects that would indicate any form of poisoning from zinc sulphide.\nNevertheless, we must determine definitely and finally if there is any ingredient\nor if the material is any way harmful.\nMr. Singmaster tells me that you are willing to consider this\nproblem and I gladly seize the opportunity to write you and am having sent\nto you a few grams of the zinc sulphide. This will be despatched to you\ndirect from our Plant in Orange, N.J. He tells me that you expect to be\nin New York in April and I hope to see you at that time. It would be akward\nfor me to come to Boston during the next week or two, but I shall be guided\nby your wishes in this matter. If you would like to have a talk with me\nbefore coming to New York, I shall of course make it a point to see you in\nBoston.\nYours truly,\nARoeder-HM\nPresident."
}