Dr. Kenneth W. Smith to O. B. Westmont on the Public Health Service Lung Function Studies at Lompoc (1955)

A one-page memo of March 24, 1955, from Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, J-M's medical director, to O. B. Westmont at the Lompoc plant, "Pulmonary Function Studies Lompoc." Smith had reviewed with Mr. Burnett a request from Dr. Cooper of the U.S. Public Health Service for more Lompoc men to be studied by Dr. Motley, and recommended the tests be done, because they would help "in enlarging our knowledge of the disease and assisting us in our preventive efforts but also because of the value in proper assessment of possible workmen's compensation cases." Burnett agreed to consider funding the added cost, and Smith hoped the special tests could continue alongside the Public Health Service's industry survey.

What it shows

The Public Health Service had agreed in 1952 to lead a study of diatomaceous earth workers, partly because its findings would be less open to question than the industry's own (Woodard's minutes of the 1952 meeting). Smith supported paying for more men to be tested, and gave the value of the results in compensation cases as one of his reasons.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

In a letter from Dr. Smith dated 3/24/55, to G.B. Westmont (Lompoc), Smith advocates continued financial support of the U.S. Public Health Service industry survey being conducted by Dr. Motley. Dr. Smith also recommends that J-M continue to provide additional men to be studied by Dr. Motley.

Editor's note: J-M's description names the recipient G. B. Westmont. The memo is addressed to O. B. Westmont.