Evening star., 1938-06-17
NEW TREATMENT
HALTS EPILEPSY
Storehouse Of Forgotten
Drug Yields Chemical
Proved Successful.
By HOWARD w. BLAKESLEE,
Associated Press Science Editor.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 17.-From
the storehouse of forgotten drugs has
come new treatment for epilepsy,
which surpasses anything heretofore
known.
The discovery was described to the
American Medical Association here to-
day by H. Houston Merritt, NJ D., and
Tracy J. Putnam, M. D., of Boston
City Hospital and Harvard Medical
School
These two physicians made an un-
usual experiment They went to the
storehouses of rare chemicals, which
are manufactured by great chemical
firms, and filed away few ounces of
each, mostly as scientific curiosities.
They tried about 100 of these on
epilepsy. They selected chemicals
whose formulas might be effective
against commissions.
One of these was a synthetic drug
made by Parke, Davis & Co. of De-
troit to cause sleep. 1t was one of
q large batch of Sleep producers. 1t
had been filed away as useless, under
the name of diphenyl hydantoin.
Tried on 142 Persons.
In the Harvard tests it proved to
be an anti-convulsant instead of a
sleeping potion. 1t was tried on 142
persons with gran NAL, the most seri-
Gus form of epilepsy.
They had found no relief in any
Of the epileptic treatments, new Or
old. Phenobarbital, which is regarded
as one of the best drugs for prevent
ing convulsions, had failed.
But the forgotten medicine"
stopped all attacks in about 80 of
the 142. To all outward appearances
they had no more epilepsy. DR.. Put
nam said, however, it is likely they
must keep on taking the preventive.
In 80 per cent of these cases there
was q great decrease in number OF
convulsions. A few were not benefited
No bad effects of any sort have been
found from the diphenyl hydantoin,
although it is likely to cause skin
rashes temporarily.
Victory Over Fishbien.
An association rebuke to its spokes-
man for lack of "gentleness" toward
the press was hailed by progressive
elements as victory over DR.. Morris
Fishbien, the generally recognized
voice of the profession.
Without a word of debate or dis
sent, the associations house of dele
gates yesterday voted to impress on
its board of trustees the necessity for
correcting certain deficiencies Of
gentleness in manner" in its agencies
Of public information.
1t refused to consider hiring press
agents to help it oppose before the
public many demands for "socializa-
ton" of medicine, or to employ leeis-
latlve counsel to voice its a ttieude
on Government policies and measures
pending before Congress.
Spokesman for Years.
DR.. Fishbien for years has been
the A. M. A. spokesman. Some ele-
ments of the press have accused him
OF seeking to control the associations S
pronouncementS. Minority medical
crops have charged him with refusing
them a voice before the public
nevertheless, the association resolved
that any apparent lack of harmony
in the ranks of organized medicine is
not based upon truth but is due to
attempts to discredit that large group
VINO from the time of Esculapius has
contributed SO much to human life and
happiness
The delegates also adopted two reso-
lutlons designed to prevent hospitals
or group hospital insurance agencies
from gaining control over physicians.
They authorized the association to
Withdraw its approval of any hospital