Take It Easy

Men still prefer magic to medicine; hence the popular excitement about the "wonder drugs." Even some doctors have become a little overenthusiastic. Dr. John H. Talbott, of the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and the Buffalo General Hospital, sounded this warning in the current issue of the New York State Journal of Medicine: "It is only human to minimize the untoward reactions of a new therapeutic substance in the enthusiasm of discovering and subjecting it to clinical trial." Dr. Talbott listed, in detail, the wonder drugs' dangers:

Penicillin's toxic or irritant effect is "unimportant," except when it is injected into the spine; then it may cause convulsions. A few patients may get a rash, no matter how the drug is given; sensitivity may follow use of the drug, so it should not be used for minor ailments.

Streptomycin, like penicillin, but unlike aerosporin (TIME, Feb. 23), has dangerous effects that are probably inherent, and not due to impurities. Streptomycin may cause headaches, skin eruptions, dizziness, may damage kidneys or ears.

Sulfonamides may cause nausea, vomiting, cyanosis (skin turning blue because of lack of oxygen in the blood), mental confusion, anemia, damage to liver and kidneys--and, in some cases, death.

Benadryl, used for hay fever and other allergies, may cause drowsiness, nervousness, nausea, shock.

Demerol, a painkiller, may cause dizziness or nausea--and may be habit-forming.

Thiouracil, used for disturbances of the thyroid gland, may make the legs swell, damage the white blood cells, cause death.

Tridione, used in the petit mal form of epilepsy, may kill by damaging the blood cells.

Bal (2,3-dimercaptopropanol, or British Anti-Lewisite), used in arsenic poisoning, may cause vomiting, constrict the throat.

Nitrogen Mustard, used in treatment of Hodgkin's disease, may damage the blood-making system.

Dr. Talbott's conclusion: "To know when to stop a drug is frequently as important as to know when to prescribe it."

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