Evening star., 1952-10-10
CIergynen Differ in Reaction
ToReport of Birth Control Pills
Boston Doctor Says
Drug Token at Meals
ForestuIls Fertility
By Fronk Corey
Asseeiofed Press Science Reporter


"A Boston doctors report Of sue
cessful use of birth control pills in
humans has elected varying reac-
tions from prominent clergymen
of the Catholic and Methodist
churches.
DR.. Benjamin Sieve reported in
the medical journal Science" yes
terday that 298 married couples
had experienced complete lack of
fertility during periods ranging
from three to 80 months while
taking the pills at breakfast, lunch
and dinner-and that some are
still taking them.
But the Boston researched en-
phasized that the drug-previously
used to control bleeding-does not
produce permanent sterility. He
said 220 of the women have had
a baby or have become pregnant
after they and their husbands quit
taking the pills.
Attacked by Priest.
The Rev. Francis J. Connell, a
Redemptorist priest and dean of
Sacred Theology at Catholic Uni
versity, was asked to comment on
the report. He declared any use
of such pills with the direct intent
of preventing conception would be
a violation of the Divine Law as
it affects birth, according to Cath
olic Interpretation of Gods law"
This is because q substance
taken orally with the direct intent
to prevent birth in no way differs
from any other means of un-
natural contraception," he said.
Bishop G. Bromley Oman,
Bishop Of the Washington ID. c.
area Of the Methodist Church,
said:
1T is in accord with the moral
law to plan properly for the COM
ing Of children. This discovery
may enable mothers to space their
children with due regard for
health. education and service to
society. The discovery is to be
commended, not condemned. >"
Requires More Data.
DR.. Sieve, while reporting pre-
hminary success. stressed that
much more clinical data must be
accumulated before the general
use Of this anti-fertility factor is
warranted"
Declaring the substance prom
1ses safe and comfortable anti
fertility" he said it "can be taken
indefinitely without toxic Charm
fuD effects of permanent inhibi-
ton Of fertility"
The pills must be taken for 10
consecutive days before their anti
fertility action becomes affective.
They must be taken continuously
thereafter to assure lack of fer
tility. DR.. Sieve added: Fertility
can be restored merely by emitting
the drug for a 48-hour period"
The drug is called '.Phosphory-.
lated Hesperidin."
DR.. Sieve said other researchers
had discovered that the drug
showed an anti-fertility action
when administered to laboratory
animals. He said he confirmed
such animal studies and then un-
dertook the tests with humans.
Retards Body Chemical.
He said the substance is believed
to act as an anti-fertility factor
by interfering with the action of
a body chemical called "Hyalu-
ronidase" which in turn is believed
to aid in the impregnation of the
female egg by the male sperm.
The scientist reported that all
298 couples had had at least one
child before undergoing the pill
treatment, but that two of the
couples had shown an apparent
sterility for some time prior to
the test. And yet, he said, the
women in both those couples were
among the first to become preg-
nant after stopping the pill-taking.
This suggests, he said, that the
chemical may have the power of
promoting sterility in persons de-
flcient in that line-while at the
same time inhibiting it in nor
mally fertile people. But he said
further study would be needed to
confirm this idea.
Father Connell said the Catholic