ATTACHMENT 11 INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM 26 March, 1945 TO: Mr. R. J. Oppenheimer FROM: Dr. L. H. Hempelmann SUBJECT: Meeting of Chemistry Division and Medical Group On Friday 23 March, 1945, representatives of the Chemistry Division and Medical Group met with Lt. Colonel Hymer Friedell to discuss the medical problems of this project and their relationship to the Medical Research Program of the Manhattan District. The need for further study of diagnostic procedures and for a detoxification program was considered and thought to be urgent. It was agreed that the Medical program concerned with the toxicity of plutonium should be pursued with the following priorities: a. Improvement of methods for protection of personnel from exposure to plutonium. b. Development of methods for diagnosis of overexposure of personnel. c. Study of methods of therapeusis for overexposed personnel. The following requests were submitted by this group to Colonel Friedell for consideration by the Medical Section of the Manhattan District. 1. Continued support of present studies of methods of assaying excreta for plutonium. The Manhattan District is asked to help make arrangements for a human tracer experiment to determine the percentage of plutonium excreted daily in the urine and feces. It is suggested that a hospital patient at either Rochester or Chicago be chosen for injection of from one to ten micrograms of material and that the excreta be sent to this laboratory for analysis. 2. Development of methods for detection of Plutonium in the lungs. This will include, 1) the development by this laboratory of a method of assaying expired air for ionization and 2) animal studies at other laboratories to determine absorption from the lung of plutonium compounds used in large quantities at this laboratory. 3. Intensification of the detoxification program in line with the priorities established above. 4. A more satisfactory relationship of this project with the Medical Program of the Manhattan District that the facilities of the Manhattan District be available for the solution of our problems. It is suggested that channels established through which our problems can be brought to the attention of those individuals who plan the research program of the Manhattan District. L. H. Hempelmann cc: Col. Warren J. W. Kennedy Lt. Col. Friedell A. C. Wahl W. Langham file