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    "localId": "75722853",
    "label": "Letters Sent to Dr. Herman Schlundt, June 5, 1928",
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    "title": "Letters Sent to Dr. Herman Schlundt, June 5, 1928",
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        "Safety Light Collection",
        "Records Related to Radium Dial Painters"
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    "ocrText": "-2-\nI have recently talked with several members of the staff of the\nMemorial Hospital, where they have some eight grams of radium in constant\nuse for medical purposes, and it is their opinion that the present cases\nhave been built largely upon public opinion, rather than on their merit.\nRadium Chloride for use intravenously is listed by the Counsel on\nPharmacy in \"New and Non-Official Remedies\", such listing having been ascribed\nto by members of the Mayo Clinic. It is our firm belief that in the event\nthat radium chloride administered intravenously was hazardous, that these men\nunder no circunstances would permit its listing. We can cite innumerable\ncases of medical men who are using radium chloride intravenously with apparent\nresult.\nof all the cases which have been treated, both in this country\nand abroad, by this type of medication there has not been reported in the\nliterature one single untoward affect.\nDr. Cameron of 511 Fifth Ave., N.Y.C.\nhas administered as much as five milligrams (5000 micrograms) of radium\nelement at one time with no apparent bad result. Dr. Cameron further\nstates\nthat there is a question in hie mind as to the good result obtained for the\ncase on which he happened to use this quantity of material.\nWhen the complete facts in this case are talcen into consideration\nit does not give me any great amount of pride in being connected with the\norganization which is willing to ascribe to a proposition such as we have,\nwithout having the larger purpose in viem - namely, to carry this thing through\nand definitely determine what the merits really are. I say this with full\nrealization of the fact that were we to go before a jury or the public at large,\nwe would unquestionably be condemned - but certainly there most be those who\nare capable of properly judging a situation such as this on its merits.\nThere has been a number of crusaders who have injected themselves into this\nsituation, and as usual thete object has been personal notriety rather than\nthe study of the situation from a sane standpoint, which would have resulted\nin little or no publicity.\nI was in Chicago on Saturday of last week, at which time I talked\nwith Dr. Frank Simpson, whose book on radium therapy I trust you are familar\nwith, and Dr. Simpgon discussed this matter and took a very same viewpoint\nregarding it, although I must say I was surprised at the influence that the\npress had boon his opinions. Dr. Simpson was extremely gratefull for obtain-\ning a few more of the facts in this case, and he felt that he had a clearer\nconception of what it was all about, and that the use of radium in the medical\nfield was being given adverse publicity without the proper foundation.\nDr. Simpson very kindly volunteered his services to help straighten this\nmatter out, as he felt there was a moral issue involved. It was a pleasure\nto discuss this matter with a man of Dr. Simpson's understanding.\nI have written you somewhat in length on this subject, and as you\nprobably realize my feelings are rather strong on same. The only satisfac-\ntion that we get out of not having to go to trial is the time which bill be\nconserved by not having to spend a lot of time in preparation, as well as\nat court.\nI have no mercy for those who have in any way purjured themselves\nwith the idea that they were benefiting humanity, for I believe that their\nefforts have been knowingly misdirected.\nWith kind regards, I remain\nCordially yours,\nHHBarker :RH\nVice President."
}