Letters Received to Dr. Frederick B. Flinn, February 3, 1927

The Boston City Hospital 3486 (BOSTON 18) JOHN J. DOWLING, M. D., Boston, February 3, 1927. SUPERINTENDENT AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR Dr. Frederick B. Flinn, Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, N. Y. Dear Dr. Flinn: In the absence of Dr. Drinker who is abroad, I am answering your letter enclosing your reprint on "Radioactive Material and Industrial Hazard?" Dr. Drinker will be pleased to have this reprint on his return. In this connection may I draw your attention to a statement on page 2 of your reprint, where you quote us as concluding that the cause of the necrosis was "the employees' habit of pointing their brushes between the lips and thus permitting the ingress of small amounts of radioactive material to the oral cavity. " I think that if you will reread our summary you will see that the exposure of the workers whom we examined was of a "peculiar type, since it also permits the inhalation of particulate material containing a radium salt. " The exposure to dust may thus permit a widespread and pe rmanent deposition of radium throughout the body. This factor we regard as important as well as the fact that the brushes were put into the mouth. Indeed, in the absence of detailed information as to the presence of this inhalation risk in other plants, it seems to me impossible to anticipate the incidence of the necrosis with certainty. You are doubtless familiar with the work of Martland published in the J.A.M.A., 1925, Vol. .LXXXV, Page 1769, which demonstrated the presence of detectable quantities of radio- active material in the bones and other organs of one of the girls employed in the orange plant. I do not know whether there was any phosphorus in the mixture in 1920-21. I do not believe that phosphorus would make a very satisfactory luminous material. It is gratifying to learn from your work that the hazardous nature of this occupation does not seem to be general, although the occurrence of two other cases is, in my opinion, more significant than the apparent immunity of many. Very truly yours, Willims B. enstt William B. Castle. WBC : BR