The Scientific War Work of Linus C. Pauling Narrative  
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Stumbling Blocks
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In a final effort to save the project, Pauling submitted one last application, noting the success of his experiments with both animal and human patients. To aid his cause, Pauling attempted to find support at the source, sending individual letters to key members of the CMR. In October 1944, the CMR responded to his requests for aid, providing a $10,000, nine-month grant. The CMR had previously assured Pauling that the Committee would arrange any necessary physiological tests that could not be completed at Caltech and, upon renewal of the Oxypolygelatin contract, they reaffirmed this promise.

While Pauling waited for the CMR to complete arrangements for testing, he and his team continued to refine the production process, ironing out wrinkles that had developed over the course of their frantic experimentation. During the early months of the Oxypolygelatin program, Pauling had corresponded often with Robert Loeb, a researcher at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. In a 1943 letter to Loeb he wrote, "It looks as though our method of preparation is not well enough standardized to give a uniform product - the osmotic pressure varies from preparation to preparation. With some evidence from the ultracentrifuge as to how the distribution in molecular weight is changing, we should be able to improve the method."

The lack of uniformity in the substance was a problem for Pauling and his team. In order to locate the irregularities, the researchers needed results from a series of physiological tests. The CMR, however, had yet to arrange for the promised tests and Pauling's grant was about to expire.

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See Also: Letter from Linus Pauling to B. O. Raulston. September 19, 1944. 
See Also: "Blood Substitutes." February 16, 1945. 

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Picture
Linus Pauling and Dan Campbell in the laboratory, California Institute of Technology. 1943.


Page 1
"Attempts to Find Substitutes for Human Serum for Transfusion by Chemical Treatment of Protein Solutions." March 31, 1943.

"I have just heard, unofficially, that the Committee on Blood Substitutes of the National Research Council has sent you a recommendation that all projects concerned with gelatine as a possible blood substitute be discontinued."

A. N. Richards
May 8, 1944
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