Letters Received to H.H. Barker, October 20, 1928

Cohmbia Unitrersito is EPIDEMIOLOGY College of and Singeons INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE 632 WEST 168th STREET, NEW YORK PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION SANITARY SCIENCE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH Oct 20 I928 Mr. H.H. Barker, United States Radium Co., New York City, N.Y. Dear Mr. Barker: I was very much surprise to get the news over the telephone about the radioactivity of the two girls. I cannot but feel that there is something very funny in the situation. As you will recall Dr. Schlundt made tests with the instru- ment at the hotel before we went to the hospital. Then on our return he made some more tests. All of this indicates that the instrument was acting normally especial- ly as his observations were in line with those we had made before at numerous times. I cannot conceive of the machine not detecting radium in Miss Fryer when we placed it in two different positions and then have the machine detect it now. The normal leak was the same as at the Hotel. I think you have 1 a right to question the situation. My suggestion is that when the next girl comes in for examination she be kept at the hospital over night. That she be made to take a bath under the supervision of a nurse, that the clothes she wore be tested for radioactivity. Of course you must be sure of her hair also. When she is examined she should wear a gown supplied by the hospital. In the case of the two girls already examined I feel that another test should be made in a week's time using the same precautions. If she had had an injection or taken some by mouth we know from my own work which simply confirms that of others that she will eliminate 30 to 60 percent of it in ten days. If the second test shows a decrease in the reading it certainly would decide as far as I am concerned the whole question. You may remember a remark that Dr Humphrey made to me about how all of the girls seem to have some of this material at home. I wouldn't put it above some of these girls to take a solution of radium and rubbúng their bodies with it. It is inconceivable to me to have Dr Schlundt and myself find such nega- tive results as me did on all five girls, especially as we made independent read- ings. I do not know of any form in which radium could be held in the body in which in would be negative one time and positive another. Do you? And isn't it queer that both girls should have approximately the same amounts in their bodied. I feel that the situation should be checked up very carefully. If I can help you at all do not hesitate to call on me. I was rather upset about it last night and went over the whole thing in my own mind and I cannot see where Dr Schlundt and I could have made any mistake. The weather or an erratic result is ruled out by our control readings all of which were constant ex- cept for the last one on Mrs Hussman. Yours truly Fundench B I-lum.