Evening star., 1942-11-21
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
By Thomas r. Henry.

ana Stuoy
By Thomas r. Henri,
A possible long step forward in COM
batting poisonous effects OF sulfa drugs
is seen in experiments recently reported
by the United States Public Health
Service.
Perhaps the worst effect thus far
studied is the development of the ane-
mic condition known as agranulocytosis
or destruction OF some types Of white
cells in the blood. A few years ago there
was a national scandal when it was
found that this was being caused by
certain popular headache remedies, The
condition was irreversible. Victims al
most always died.
But the agranulocytosis caused by
sulfa drugs, apparently only in highly
susceptible individuals, can be stopped
II treated in time, and thus far there
nave been no fatalities.
Working to clear up the situation, Drs.
S. S. Spicer, Floyd S. Daft, L. L. Ash
burn and w. H. Sebrell of the Public
Health Service staff fed rats with a
scientifically adequate diet to which were
added heavy doses daily of sulfaguani-
dine and type Of sulfathiazol.
For few days there were no notable
aHects. Then the rate of growth of the
young animals slowed down and later
stopped altogether Agranulocytosis was
produced with regularity together with
fragillty of the blood vessel walls, sew
eral other serious blood conditions and
curious breaking out on the skin. The
animals always died in short time.
But, the Public Health Service doctors
found, they could prevent the agranu-
locytosis, other blood conditions and
stoppage of growth entirely if they fed
the animals, simultaneously with the
sulfa drugs, regular doses of liver ex-
tract. The skin condition could be pre-
vented entirely if they fed infinitestima-
bly, minute amounts of the B vitamin
biotin, most powerful of all physiological |
substances, the first synthesis of which
was announced from Cornell University
few weeks ago.
The mechanism OF the reactions still
Is vague, the physicians report. There
is possibility, they believe that the
sulfa drugs, given in heavy doses, pre-
vent the synthesis within the body itself
OF certain essential vitamins, some Of
which still may be unknown. It is DOS
sible that biotin itself is synthesized in
this way.
There also is the possibility that the
drugs act as a direct poison on certain
blood cells and that this poison is coun-
acted by something in liver extract 1t
also is possible that the sulfa substances
interfere with one or more of the ex-
tremely complex engine systems of the
animal body which are basic in the phe-
nomenon OF growth.
The doses of the drugs and of the liver
extract given the rats were far larger,
relative to size, than would ever be given
to human beings.
Occasional development of agranulocy-
tosis, even in non malignant, reversible
form, however, is q problem OF serious
concern to medicine. The white cells are
the soldiers of the body which 20 into
action to combat Infection If they
are seriously effected, there always is the
possibility that resistance to future in
fections may be lowered and that larger
and larger doses of the drugs might be
necessary with repeated infections.
4 X
More than II 900 workers in American
war industries have been killed or in
jured, on or off the job, every day since
December THE equivalent of 43 Army
battalions at wartime strength.
OF these 42,6O0 have been killed.
This is the astounding revelation Of
DR.. Victor G. Heiser, medical consultant
of the Association of American Manu-
facturers
DR.. Heiser does not differentiate be-
tween those actually killed on war work
and those who have died in accidents
outside the factory.
Because of absences Of war production
workers from their jobs this year, he
says, industry has lost 12l 500 900 man
hours, or enough to have produced 5000
extra bombers. Some OF the absenteeism
may have been deliberate, he believes,
but most of it has been due to the un-
sanitary conditions and irregular hours
which have been inevitable In such
rapidly expanding industries.
There are" he said "innumerable
cases of four or five men camping out
in single room and taking turns in
doing the cooking. You know what this
probably means in terms of the kind of
food they eat. inexperienced workers,
lack of proper eating facilities for three
good meals day and other conditions
present special problems.
Ninety per cent of the absenteeism is
from reported sickness. 1t is dificult
to tell how much of this was genuine. T
suspect that a disgraceful amount of
time has been taken of by some workers
for purely personal reasons-such as
hunting for another job, going shopping,
hunting or fishing. a staying home to
recuperate from bad week end.