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{
    "localId": "75720252",
    "label": "Letters Sent to Dr. Frederick B. Flinn, October 16, 1925",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Letters Sent to Dr. Frederick B. Flinn, October 16, 1925",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75720252",
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        "Safety Light Collection",
        "Records Related to Radium Dial Painters"
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    "seq": 1,
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    "ocrText": "COPY\nG.E. Pfahler, M.D.\nB.P. Widmann, M.D.\n1321 Spruce St., Phila.Pa.\nOctober 16,1925.\nDr. Frederick B. Flinn,\nProf. of Industrial Hygiene,\nColumbia University,\n437 West 59th St.\nN Y.C.\nDear Dr. Flinn:\nI zam very mach interested in your letter of October 14th, I fear\nthat I can add vory little to your information.\nI have not como in contact with the Industrial workers. I belivvo,\nhowovor, that the effect on these girls which you describe and the article concerning\nwhich I had previously read, may possibly be explained from the effect of these\nparticles of radio activo matter getting into the bone through open spaces in the\ncancellous structure connected with phorrhea. As you well lmow, even many years ago\nwhen necrosis of the jaw followed wither extensive administration or workers in\nload, mereury or phosphorlus, it was found that these patients were not likely to\ndevolop these conditions if their mouths and teeth were kept clean.\nBy x-Tay examination, we continually show the open cancellous spaces\nconnected with phorrhea. It does sem possible, therefore, that continued use over\na long period of time might lead to the absorption of these particles just as pus or\ninfections germs are absorbed in these phorrheal open spaces. I know of no bone changes\nin connection with radium administration excepting when the bone is directly OVE -\nexposed and then the offect is local. I have seen this when I have applied radium in\nconnection with malignant disease by means of needles or even by prolonred contact\napplication with radium capsules.\nDr. Cameron, who is connected with the Radiun Chemical Co., Forbes &\nHarris Sts., Pittsburgh, could probably give you a rather striking case along this line,\nshowing resistance of the body and the resistance of the bone even to radiation. As I\nremembor the details, of this caso, which is not in print the patient received at the\ntime the report was made to me approzimately 100,000 radium milligram hours applied to\nthe thirh on account of some malignant disease. This was scattered over a year of\nmore but I bolieve there was no damago noted to the bone and no serious demage to the\nblood. I am enclosing a reprint of some blood studies, which I made in connection with\nthe radiation effect some years ago\nWith regard to the present workers, I bolieve that they should be caution-\ned with regard to an emmination of their teeth and gum and instructed as to the\nproper care of them.\nI doubt bory mach if these precautions are talcen that there is any\nappreciable risk in the work.\nVery sincerely yours,\nt\n(signed) G.E.Phahler"
}