J. P. Woodard to Kenneth W. Smith on Dr. Lanza's View of Merewether's Paper (1950)

A one-page confidential memo of March 3, 1950, from J. P. Woodard at J-M's General Headquarters to Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, headed "Asbestosis: Dr. Merewether." The copy is mostly illegible. Woodard reported that he had discussed Merewether's paper with Dr. A. J. Lanza of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, who said of Merewether's opinions, "They just don't hold water." According to J-M's description, Lanza agreed with Smith that mining and milling were "much less likely" to be hazardous than fabricating, and Woodard took up Smith's two recommendations: that Smith review and perhaps publish his own X-ray files, which he was "sure" would be favorable, and that a "qualified authority" study the possible link between asbestosis and lung cancer.

What it shows

Woodard wrote that "Dr. Lanza says he would like to be the agency to undertake this study," and asked Smith to see whether it could be taken on "as an industry proposition." He sent copies of the Merewether paper to Vandiver Brown and A. R. Fisher. This is the start of the 1950 plan for an industry-funded lung cancer study (Smith to Vorwald on Merewether, Smith on Lanza's contract).

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

In a memorandum dated 3/3/50, J.P. Woodard relates to Dr. K. Smith the comment from Dr. A. Lanza that Merewether's opinions "don't hold water." Woodard says Merewether mixes "two phases": the "medical phases" and the phase which gets into "sociological realms." Woodard points out Lanza agrees with Smith that mining and milling processes are undoubtedly "much less likely" to be hazardous in comparison with fabricating processes. Woodard refers to Smith's recommendations that (1) Smith review all x-ray films in his files, correlate them with the working histories of the individuals, and consider publishing the results which Smith is "sure" would be favorable and (2) that some "qualified authority" should do a study regarding the "possible relationship" between asbestosis and lung cancer. Regarding Smith's second recommendation, Woodard states Lanza would like to undertake such a study. Woodard inquires whether the industry might be willing to support such a study. Woodard is sending a copy of Merewether's paper to Brown and Fisher, along with a copy of Woodard's memorandum to Smith.

Related documents

• Kenneth W. Smith to Arthur J. Vorwald Enclosing Merewether's Article on the Pneumoconioses (1950)
• E. R. A. Merewether, The Pneumokonioses: Developments, Doubts, Difficulties (1949)
• Arthur J. Vorwald to Kenneth W. Smith on Reviewing Asbestos X-Rays for Lung Cancer (1949)
• Arthur J. Vorwald and Kenneth W. Smith on Lung Cancer Among Canadian J-M Workers (1950)
• Leroy Gardner to J. P. Woodard on Asbestos and Lung Cancer (1946)