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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
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"ocrText": "R. L. M. C. INTERIOR MEMORANDUM\nDate\nSubject\nFor Attention of\nAnswering Memo. of\nDr. Drinker's Report\nDear Mr. .Roeder;\nI have studied Dr. Drinkers report thouroughly and\ncannot feel that he has satisfactorily determined the cause\nof the jaw necrosis found in some of our operators.\nIn fact the conclusions which he arrives at are\nnot based on his findings at the plant. There are numerous\npoints which I believe need further explanation and\nwhich I question.\nIn taking up the question of exposure to radiations\nwhich he mentions on taking up the radium phase on page.\n7 it would seem to me the most important point to consider\nwould be that of quantity. In the literature he refers to\nI believe that it would be found to be true that the re-\nsults from over exposure would be due to a very muchblargr\nquantity of radiation that could possibly be present\nto our operators at any time. If radium is to be considered\nwe must first of all come down to a comparison of quantities.\nDr Drinkers reference on page 8 to necrosis re-\nsulting following treatment of cancer of the tongue by\nradiation is not fair in that he only mentions 4 cases in\nwhich this condition has resulted. This is not an uncommon\nform of cancer and has been treated many times by raddatinn\nwithout necrosis resulting. The question of quantity in-\nvolved would also again enter into a fair comparison.\nDr Drinkers conclusions as to the deposition of\nradium as indicated on the ottom of page 8 would seem to n-\nindicate that the use of ampoules is dangerous espedially\nwhen we know that the quantity used in ampoules is many\ntimes that to which our operators could possibly absorb.\nIt would appear to me that the opinion of a man like Dr.\nField who uses ampoules extensively would be especially\nvaluable on this point.\nIn reference to the dust. existing in the plant\nI question very much whetherhthis carrys radiaactivity\nor not and his preliminary tests have been negative. We\nknow that the presencé of radioactivity can be ver easily\ndetermined and to the very minutest degree. If the dust\nwhich was collected by Dr Drinker ants wilch qust has\nlaid a considerable length of time does not reanilv show\nactivity it seems to me that we c.a. safely feel that the\ndust which is inhaled cannot be the cause of our troubles\nif this trauble is due to radium.\nI believe that this dust still remains from the time\nof our spraying. The tops of partitions ,pipes and the celling\nand walls are still covered with this material. Dr Drinkers"
}