Memorandum to Harold B. Viedt [H.B. Viedt], April 9, 1925

4/9/25 Mr. Viedt. PIRSONAL Dear Harold: Dr. Gilman Thompson of New York has been retained by the Insurance Company in Miss Carlough's case. A report just received from him contains certain recommendations that should be carried out. It does not matter whether it is finally determined that luminous material is injurious or not injurious. I am, therefore, sending you a copy of his recommendations and ask you to immediately carry them out. I think you should go even further and insäst on the use of finger cots in pointing brushes and every other precaution: # VII. Recommendations. 1. All applicants for radium paint work should have a general physical examination before admission. 2. A competent dentist with ability to take his own radio- graphs should be regularly employed by the Corporation on constant or part-time duty. He should examine every applicant for admission and place radiographs of all their teeth on file. This is not an expensive or time-consuming process. It can be done in New York City for five dollars for the complete examination of all the teeth, and the radiographs may all be taken in ten or fifteen minutes. 3. These dental examinations should be checked up at least every six months and careful records kept on file. 4. Tooth brushes and tooth paste or powder or appropriate mouth washes should be prescribed by the dentist and furnished gratis to the employees. This is much more economical than payes ing seventy-five thousand dollar law suits. l'acilities for brush- ing the teeth and cleansing the mouth should be offered at the Plant and used before the employees return home. 5. Printed rules should be given every employee regard ing the care, not only of the mouth, but of general health. Firste class corporations are now doing this in a great many industries and finding it an economic gain. 6. Any employee found putting the paint brush into her mouth or failing to scrub her hands and finger nails thoroughly before eating, should be given one warning, and on the second offense dismissed." The Life Extension Institute examinations are doubtless all right, but I think it would be better to have a local dentist and physician since the work would be greatly facilitated by eliminating trips to New York. All films and reports should be carefully filed. Yours truly, - ARoeder - AR/HM