Hamilton sent a report on the research program from contract 48 to Col. E.B. Kelly
(August 28, 46); the following excerpts are quoted:
"In addition to the animal experiments a very extensive study with plutonium 238 was
undertaken employinga relatively normal human subject from whom several highly
important tissue samples were secured including bone."
"The work planned for the coming fiscal year includes the following major items: First,
weplan to perform more adequate inhalation studies with rats using the more important
long-lived fission products; manyof the earlier inhalation studies with fission products
were unsatisfactory due to the unavailability at that time of what we now consider
suitable technical methods. he projected experiments include the inhalation of oxides as
well as soluble compounds of radio-elements such as yttrium,zirconium, and columbium,
ruthenium, cerium, and praseodymium....it is planned to undertake inhalation studies with
these agents using normal human subjects." (p. 4)
“Tracer studies will be initiated employing radium,actinium, uranium, americium, and
curium in animals and humansusing clinical materials available from the Medical
School. In addition, tracer studies employing the most importantof the long-lived fission
products in such human subjects will be attempted if time is sufficient.” (p. 5)
cc's of this report were sent to the Area Engineer, Prof. E.O. Lawrence, Dr. J.H.
Lawrence, Mr. R.M. Underhill, Mr. K. Priestley, Col. S.L. Warren, Dr. R.S. Stone (this
last name on 12-29-46).
Stonesent a letter to the Area Engineer referring to the therapeutic experiments being
conducted; they included total-body radiation from external sources (X-ray), from
internal sources (radioactive phosphorus), and he discussed observationsof patients
treated with radioactive iodine (Sept 12, 46). Hamilton sent the Area Engineer a letter (cc
to E.O. Lawrence) with reference to the uranium, remarkingthatit deposits in bone,like
Plutonium, as demonstrated in Chicago and here (Sept 16, 46).
(Nota Bene: Plutonium deposits in bone especially in humans; it will be remembered
that the researchers were surprised at the high rate ofbone deposition, since experiments
with rats had shown other results.)
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
Archives and Records Office
Human Radiation Experiments Search and Retrieval Project
Anna Berge Research Notes
Electronic Document Title: Bancroft/EOL
Apmil 4, 1994
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