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June 26th,1928.
United States Navy,
Bureau of Medicine & Surgery,
Washington, D.C.
Att'n E. R. Stitt, Surgeon General.
Gentlemen:
In reply to your communication of June 20th, we are glad to give
you herewith, a list of recommendations which we believe will eliminate
any possibility of trouble or hazard connected with the handling and
application of luminous radio-active materials to instrument dials, etc.
This list of recommendations we gave to J. F. Siler, Lt. Colonel, Medical
Corps, in a letter written June 25th, in reply to a communication from him.
1.
At one time it was quite common for the operators to point
the brushes with their lips, a practice which should be
strictly forbidden. It is generally conceded that where
trouble has resulted and radio-active materials have been
deposited in the system, this practice served as the means
of introducing the material into the system. With the
discontinuance of such a practice, this possibility. of
course, is eliminated.
2.
The work should be conducted in well ventilated and well
lighted rooms.
3.
Applicators should thoroughly cleanse their hands after
handling luminous material.
4.
Applicators should refrain from placing hands about-the
face or to instrument dials, etc. of applying this material
5.
Operators continuously engaged in this type of work should
have frequent (quarterly) medical examinations. Such
examination consisting of a blood picture, and a general
examination of teath, heart, chest and lungs.
6.
A test has been developed for detecting minute traces (as
low as 2 micrograms) of radium element, when deposited in
the system. Those engaged in the application of luminous
material such as clock companies, are having their employ-
ees subjected to this test at various intervis, in order to
be absolutely assured that there is no possibility of
danger. Dr. F. B. Flinn, who was at one time connected
with the U. S. Public Health Service in Washington, has
been making these examinations for a large number of the
clock companies, and is in a position to do such work for
those interested.
While we have general information as to the symptoms and pat.
-2-
ology of disease processes which are claimed to have resulted from the
application of this material, still we do not feel that we are fully
qualified to give you this particular type of information. Dr. F.B.Flinn,
of the Public Health Department of the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
Columbia University, 630 West 168th St., New York City, who has been
studying the use of radio-active luminous materials from an industrial
hazard standpoint for the past three years, is undoubtedly the best
qualified man in this field at this time. We are, therefore, taking
the liberty of forwarding to Dr. Flinn a copy of your communication,
asking him to write you with regard to themeparticular points.
I am confident that Dr. Flinn will be able to lay the above
mentioned phase of the situation clearly before you.
Very sincerely yours,
Vice President.
HHBarker:RH
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"ocrText": "June 26th,1928.\nUnited States Navy,\nBureau of Medicine & Surgery,\nWashington, D.C.\nAtt'n E. R. Stitt, Surgeon General.\nGentlemen:\nIn reply to your communication of June 20th, we are glad to give\nyou herewith, a list of recommendations which we believe will eliminate\nany possibility of trouble or hazard connected with the handling and\napplication of luminous radio-active materials to instrument dials, etc.\nThis list of recommendations we gave to J. F. Siler, Lt. Colonel, Medical\nCorps, in a letter written June 25th, in reply to a communication from him.\n1.\nAt one time it was quite common for the operators to point\nthe brushes with their lips, a practice which should be\nstrictly forbidden. It is generally conceded that where\ntrouble has resulted and radio-active materials have been\ndeposited in the system, this practice served as the means\nof introducing the material into the system. With the\ndiscontinuance of such a practice, this possibility. of\ncourse, is eliminated.\n2.\nThe work should be conducted in well ventilated and well\nlighted rooms.\n3.\nApplicators should thoroughly cleanse their hands after\nhandling luminous material.\n4.\nApplicators should refrain from placing hands about-the\nface or to instrument dials, etc. of applying this material\n5.\nOperators continuously engaged in this type of work should\nhave frequent (quarterly) medical examinations. Such\nexamination consisting of a blood picture, and a general\nexamination of teath, heart, chest and lungs.\n6.\nA test has been developed for detecting minute traces (as\nlow as 2 micrograms) of radium element, when deposited in\nthe system. Those engaged in the application of luminous\nmaterial such as clock companies, are having their employ-\nees subjected to this test at various intervis, in order to\nbe absolutely assured that there is no possibility of\ndanger. Dr. F. B. Flinn, who was at one time connected\nwith the U. S. Public Health Service in Washington, has\nbeen making these examinations for a large number of the\nclock companies, and is in a position to do such work for\nthose interested.\nWhile we have general information as to the symptoms and pat.\n-2-\nology of disease processes which are claimed to have resulted from the\napplication of this material, still we do not feel that we are fully\nqualified to give you this particular type of information. Dr. F.B.Flinn,\nof the Public Health Department of the College of Physicians and Surgeons,\nColumbia University, 630 West 168th St., New York City, who has been\nstudying the use of radio-active luminous materials from an industrial\nhazard standpoint for the past three years, is undoubtedly the best\nqualified man in this field at this time. We are, therefore, taking\nthe liberty of forwarding to Dr. Flinn a copy of your communication,\nasking him to write you with regard to themeparticular points.\nI am confident that Dr. Flinn will be able to lay the above\nmentioned phase of the situation clearly before you.\nVery sincerely yours,\nVice President.\nHHBarker:RH"
}