Evening star., 1938-01-18
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook u Science Progress in Field.
Laboratory and Study.
THOAdcp urNov
BY THOMAS r. HENRY

A drug that enables children-at least
some Of them spectacularly-to make
higher marks in school is being sub
jected to a lot Of experiments these days.
1t is benzedrine sulfate, q substance
closely related chemically to adrenalin.
which seems to have some Of the effects
OF that magic medicine in much milder
way. For the past 20 years 1t has had
a limited use as q stimulator Of the SYM
pathetic nervous system, but much more
F recent is the discovery that it causes a
prolonged and marked stimulation of
the central nervous system without Sc
riously poisonous side effects or tendency
to be habit-forming.
One of the most notable experiments
to date has been with the administra-
ton Of the drug to lat Georgetown Uni
versity medical students at examination
time by Drs. Henry B. Gwynn and Wal
lace M. Yater of the medical school
faculty-upon which they report at
length in the current issue of the Medi-
cal Annals of the District Of Columbia.
Some more striking results. however,
have been obtained elsewhere.
Thus in this months Journal of Psy-
chiatry DR.. Charles Bradley of Provi-
dence tells of giving benzedrine sulfate
in small doses for IS days to 80 children
under IL in an institution where they
had been placed as behavior problems
All were of normal intelligence. In this
particular institution there are a limited
number OF children in charge of excep-
tional teachers who use the most modern
methods of pedagogy and devote lot
Of time to individual instruction. They
1A
able improvements.
But" reports Dr. Bradley, "the re-
suits Of the benzedrine sulfate would
have been demoralizing to these teachers
If the practical results had not been so
good"
That IS. they saw the results of their
hardest efforts for months with indi-
vidual children outdone in a day by a
pill. It accomplished almost everything
they had hoped to accomplish, by the
most advanced methods of pedagogy,
over a long period.
The good effects however, were con-
fined to Is Of the 30 children. The others
showed no noticeable improvement in
classroom work, although some of them
did improve notably in behavior. Very
excitable children became more placid
and easy going. They were subdued in
their emotional responses. The chill
dren who improved in class work seemed
to have q greater power Of concentra- =
ton on their lessons. more ambition. a
wider range of interests, and less ten
dency to day dreaming. A common re-
mark was: Il can't seem to do things
fast enough today" Only one child
became more aggressive and irritable.
DR.. Bradley notes that the improve
ments started the day he gave the first
dose Of benzedrine sulfate and ended
abruptly as soon as the drug was dis
continued.
The report of the Georgetown doc
tors, however, is not 30 entirely favor
able. Seventy-one Of the lat medical
students reported mental stimulation
from the drug. Others reported that
they had suffered from sleeplessness.
nervousness. palpitation Of the heart,
headaches, dizziness, dryness of the
throat, fatigue. depression, euphoria and
stomach pain--although none to 4 very
serious degree. These symptoms, with