THE RUDOLF REPORT

GERMAR RUDOLF · THE RUDOLF REPORTreleased from a local hospital.Carl T. Grimm, 20, a sophomore from Placentia, Calif.,swallowed a crystalline form of potassium cyanide, which preventsoxygen from entering cells. He immediately asked hisroommate to call for help but not before the chemical reactedwith water in his body and began to produce cyanide gas, aspokesman for the college said.Grimm’s residence hall at the private liberal arts collegelocated about 50 miles east of Des Moines was evacuated becauseof the fumes. Grinnell Regional Medical Center, whereGrimm’s body was taken, also had to be aired out.College officials are still trying to determine how Grimmgot the potassium cyanide and why he wanted to kill himself. [19]Another case, which occurred somewhat differently, neverthelessled to an accident which was no less tragic. Salts of cyanide, whichrelease cyanide gas in the presence of moisture, are used for theseparation of gold and silver during the processing of precious metals.In the case in question, a company was engaged in the processing ofthe cyanide-rich residues of such chemical reactions contained in largetanks, which is not without risk. The employer directed the workers,who were not equipped with gas masks or protective clothing, to gointo the tanks which were still releasing cyanide gas. The consequenceswere tragic.Department of Justice National News ReleaseMONDAY, MAY 10, 1999On May 7, the jury in Pocatello, ID, found that Allan Eliasordered employees of Evergreen Resources, a fertilizer manufacturingcompany he owned, to enter and clean out a 25,000-gallon storage tank containing cyanide without taking requiredprecautions to protect his employees. Occupational Safety andHealth Administration inspectors repeatedly had warned Elias19www.mankato.msus.edu/depts/reporter/reparchive/10_15_98/campuscope.html18