ATTACHMENT 8



INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM

29 August 1944

TO: J. R. Oppenheimer

FROM: L. H. Hempelmann

SUBJECT: Medical Research Program

Colonel Warren has suggested that I summarize the biological 
research program which was agreed upon in our conference with you 
and Mr. Kennedy on 25 August 1944. This program which will be 
pursued with a relatively high priority will consist of three parts:

1. The development of chemical methods of determining plutonium in 
the excreta and in tissues and of ionization methods of detecting 
plutonium in the lungs.

2. Animal experimentation to check the methods described above.

3. Tracer experiments on humans to determine the percentage of 
plutonium excreted daily.

When satisfactory analytical methods have been developed in this 
laboratory the problem of carrying out further metabolic studies 
will be turned over to another medical group, presumably the 
Rochester group. It was also decided that the Rochester group should 
undertake a series of experiments with plutonium supplied by this 
project to determine the lethal dose in animals.

It is felt that a temporary staff of ten or eleven people will be 
required to complete the above program within a reasonable period 
of time. This will include four chemists, four chemical technicians, 
one physicist and two unskilled laboratory assistants. Of these, it 
is probable that one chemist and two or three technicians will 
remain permanently with the Medical Group to test for plutonium in 
the excreta of the working personnel. Only the physicist and two 
technicians are needed to complete the proposed temporary staff; 
arrangements have been made to secure these people. It is planned 
to have the activities of the above group supervised by an advisory 
committee representing the chemistry, physics and medical divisions.

Considerable additional laboratory space will be needed for this 
program. This will amount to about 1500 square feet, the approximate
size of the Q building. If the Q building can be obtained, this will 
allow us to have a room to house the animals and carry out dirty 
operations (ashing and drying of tissues, etc.) and another for 
electronics.

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INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM

TO: J. R. Oppenheimer DATE 29 August 1944

FROM: L. H. Hempelmann

SUBJECT: Medical Research Program

Page 2 - Continued

It will also be necessary for us to have a "counting shack" outside 
the Technical Area as we will be concerned with the detection of 
very small amounts of radioactivity. It is proposed that the present 
hematology laboratory (U-1) and the medical office be retained at 
least until the temporary program has been completed. It is hoped 
that with the personnel and facilities outlined above the program 
can be completed in four months.

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