Evening star., 1938-03-30
CANCER INJECTION
IS FATAL TO SIX
Orlando (FIa.) Women Die of
Tetanus-Inquiry Begun
by U. S.
BY the Associated Press.

OtLANDO. Fla., March 30.-Dr.
H. A. Day, president of the Orange
County Medical Association, said today
six women have died here and four
other persons have been stricken with
tetanus during the last "a hours fol-
lowing injections used in treatment of
cancer.
He said Orlando physicians feared
number of other persons might be
stricken, since an undetermined num-
Der had been given the injections.
The six women have died in Or
lando hospitals since midnight. They
and the four who are in serious con-
dition were stricken with tetanus
dockjaw) yesterday. Dr. Day said
that in every case death came much
sooner than usual in tetanus cases.
Hospitals said the dead are Mrs.
Jack Sweetman, Mrs. L. j. Jackson,
Mrs. w. r. Thompson and Mrs. Eliza
beth Sunderburke, all of Orlando, and
Mrs. w. c. Braswell of Holopaw, Fla,
and Mrs. H. B. Homage of Cocoa. Fla.
DR.. Day said every effort was being
made to locate all persons who had
received treatment for cancer. He de-
clared the serum used in the cases
which had proved fatal came from the
Office OF physician here. Most Of
the injections, he said, were admin
istered Saturday.
Drug Held Contaminated.
CHICAGO, March 80 P).-Dr. Nor
ris Fishbein, spokesman for the Ameri-
can Medical Association, said today
the compound used in cancer treat
ment at Orlando, Fla, apparently had
become contaminated.
DR.. Fishbein said the drug, known as
ensol, was manufactured in Kingston
ont, Canada. and was introduced in
September, 1885. At that time. Dr.
flshbeln said, the medical association
warned against its use as an unstand-
ardized product.
He said the cases would be investi-
gated by the Federal Food and Drug
Administration and the United States
Public Health service. Investigators
obtained samples of the drug for bac-
-SAoSASal ChdAIl4lldGlOIl.
DR.. Fishbein said he did not expect
deaths would be widespread since the
proouct, because of its foreign manu-
1acture, would have only limited dis
tribution here.
1t is administered only by a physi-
clan, is not sold to the public across
the counter, and its sponsors claimed
no other uses for it than for cancer.
Dr. Fishbein said.
cancer sufferers, DR.. Fishbein wrote
IN 1885, had been Stimulated to false
hopes by the product.
U. S. Inquiry Ordered.
The Federal Food and Drug Admin
lstration ordered an investigation to-
Gay into the deaths last night of six
persons at Orlando. Fla, which officials
said had been attributed to cancer
cure" drug.
DR.. j. J. Durrett, chief of the drug
division of the administration, SAID
Two investigators now located in
Florida had been instructed to 90 to
Orlando to make the investigation.
1ney are M. O. Rentz and LoWrie M.
Beacham.
DR.. Durrett said the administra-
ton would seize all the drug that
could be located in this country. It
is manufactured, he said, by drug
concern at Kingston, Ontario, Canada,
Inc Canadian Legation here, Dur
lett SAID, had promised to cooperate
IN every way to obtain list of sources
to which the drug had been sent
IN this country.
DR.. Durrett said he had been in.
formed the drug had not been placed
on the market yet, but that SAMPLES
had been distributed among physi-
clans for clinical trial.
Whether or not this is the case"
he said, I'VE will not know until we
hear from Canadian health officials
through the Canadian legation"