Dr. Robert T. P. deTreville to H. M. Jackson Sending Dr. Paul Gross's Opinion on Michael F. Diagula (1968)

A covering letter of March 8, 1968, from Dr. Robert T. P. deTreville of the Industrial Hygiene Foundation of America to H. M. Jackson, Johns-Manville's director of industrial relations, with four copies of an "Opinion Based on the Autopsy Protocol of Mr. Michael F. Diagula" by Dr. Paul Gross. Reading the autopsy protocol by Dr. Vern L. Zech of St. Therese's Hospital, Waukegan, Illinois, Gross agreed that Diagula, an asbestos-cement worker, died of a lung cancer, and suspected that the "micronodular pulmonary fibrosis" described in it was probably silicotic. He wrote that "If significant pulmonary asbestosis is present, it would be very difficult to defend the position that the lung cancer found in Michael Diagula is non-occupational even if Michael Diagula had been a heavy cigarette smoker," but that this could not be settled without examining the lung tissue.

What it shows

A handwritten note on the letter reads: "Reviewed with Dr. Gross. No action required unless further studies requested." J-M did ask for more: in November 1968 Gross examined Diagula's lungs and sent his report (covering letter of November 25, 1968). Diagula's compensation claim is one of the two lung cancer cases that a J-M memo of July 30, 1968 recommended settling quietly.