Letters Sent, no date

R. L. M. C. INTERIOR MEMORANDUM Date Subject For Attention of Answering Memo. of Dr. Drinker's Report Dear Mr. .Roeder; I have studied Dr. Drinkers report thouroughly and cannot feel that he has satisfactorily determined the cause of the jaw necrosis found in some of our operators. In fact the conclusions which he arrives at are not based on his findings at the plant. There are numerous points which I believe need further explanation and which I question. In taking up the question of exposure to radiations which he mentions on taking up the radium phase on page. 7 it would seem to me the most important point to consider would be that of quantity. In the literature he refers to I believe that it would be found to be true that the re- sults from over exposure would be due to a very muchblargr quantity of radiation that could possibly be present to our operators at any time. If radium is to be considered we must first of all come down to a comparison of quantities. Dr Drinkers reference on page 8 to necrosis re- sulting following treatment of cancer of the tongue by radiation is not fair in that he only mentions 4 cases in which this condition has resulted. This is not an uncommon form of cancer and has been treated many times by raddatinn without necrosis resulting. The question of quantity in- volved would also again enter into a fair comparison. Dr Drinkers conclusions as to the deposition of radium as indicated on the ottom of page 8 would seem to n- indicate that the use of ampoules is dangerous espedially when we know that the quantity used in ampoules is many times that to which our operators could possibly absorb. It would appear to me that the opinion of a man like Dr. Field who uses ampoules extensively would be especially valuable on this point. In reference to the dust. existing in the plant I question very much whetherhthis carrys radiaactivity or not and his preliminary tests have been negative. We know that the presencé of radioactivity can be ver easily determined and to the very minutest degree. If the dust which was collected by Dr Drinker ants wilch qust has laid a considerable length of time does not reanilv show activity it seems to me that we c.a. safely feel that the dust which is inhaled cannot be the cause of our troubles if this trauble is due to radium. I believe that this dust still remains from the time of our spraying. The tops of partitions ,pipes and the celling and walls are still covered with this material. Dr Drinkers