Evening star., 1940-05-16
Of Stars, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Field, Laboratory
And Study
BIZ Thomas r. Henrv.

And Study
By Thomas r. Henry.
Control Of one Of the most intractable
nervous disease by constant use Of an
extract from the roots Of the deadly
nightshade is reported by DR.. r. Finley
Gayle. professor Of nepro-psychiatry at
the Medical College Of Virginia at Rich
mond.
The malady is Parkinsons syndrome.
characterized by distortion Of the body.
paralysis and extreme tremors and
sometimes by mental deterioration. 1t
Is often one Of the aftermaths of en-
cephalitis. Nerve specialists have used
wide variety Of drugs in treating 1t,
mostly with Indifferent success.
Nearly Is years ago Bulgarian peas
ant named Ivan Raeff began to attract
attention with supposedly miraculous
cures. He was an herb collector, igno-
rant OF medicine. His remedy was con-
tanned IN four packages. One contained
deadly nightshade roots gathered near
his home. Another was filled with bone
charcoal. The third contained pills
made Of bread dough, sawdust and nut
meg. The fourth contained q conglom-
Grafton OF other herbs. These were sup
Piled to patients with elaborate and
nonsensical instructions. Raen was an
ignorant man with belief In magic.
Naturally, the medical profession paid
little attention to him. Some of the
reports from the Bulgarian village, how
ever, attracted the notice of the Queen
OF Italy. She established hospital at
which the peasant could treat crippled
encephalitis victims. AS II in defiance
OF the doctors, the "cures" continued.
A healing cult began to grow up. An
other hospital was established in Ger
many. In spite of the obvious fact that
Haen did not have any real medical
knowledge, he was bringing about cures
winch the greatest nerve specialists in
Europe could not duplicate. Some shadow
was thrown on his accomplishments.
however, by the fact that his patients
were nearly all poor people, under
nourlshed at home. who responded in
the luxurious and sanitary surroundings
OF the hospital established by the
italian Queen.
The Bulgarian treatment" clouded
with unprofessionalism, attracted prac-
tlcaily no attention in America until it
was taken up experimentally bv DR..
1ayle. 1t was obvious from the first
that the only part of the peasants
treatment which could have any value
was the prescribing Of deadly nightshade
roofs. Poisonous If eaten in large ouan-
Titles, they contained three or four aka
Ioids which already had been used with
varying success in the treatment Of
Farklnsons disease. These included the
Wen known and powerful drugs, atropine
and scolomine.
Dr. Gayle found that a commercial
preparation Of the nightshade roots
proved much more efficacious than anv
OF the alkaloids used separately. or anv
particular combination of them The
preparation might contain them in
exactly the right proportions, or there
might be something else, as yet uniden-
tlneo' In the preparation. From the
nrst, ne has just reported to the Med
zeal Society Of Virginia, his results have
been startling.
Inc preparation is given in extremely
minute doses. 1t has given the most
marked results in clearing up physical
olsaollitles although there have been
some beneficial effects on mental con-
oitlon For the most part the effects
nave peen notable within q few davs
II tnere is no response in two weeks Dr
gayle advises other physicians, the
treatment had better be discontinued
The particular patient probably is not
adapted to it.
Inc Virginia doctor does not claim q
cure. Some victims have not improved
az all. Other badly disabled persons
tor whom other treatments have proved
worthless, have been able to return tn
work and apparently have been saved
from continuing as hopeless cripp]es
Among these is Richmond minister
VINO furnishes the most striking testi.
monial for the treatment
Inc nlgntsnade root treatment, how
ever. has an extremely dramatic sids
IL must be administered constantly, pre-
sumably throughout the lifetime of the
victim, whenever the old symptoms be-
gin to appear. Relief lasts from a few
days to more than week. Once the
treatment is discontinued, the victim
lapses almost Immediately to his former
state.
Thus a person is dependent for life
on supply of the remedy. The condi-
ton is similar to that in which certain
individuals can remain normal only SO
long as they have constant supply Of
thyroid gland preparation. Once this
is discontinued, they lapse into a state
OF 1eeble-mindedness. This situation has
provided plots for number of PLAYS
and short stories.
The treatment still Is purely i'm.
pirical. 1t is not even certain whether
the curative potency is possessed by