Evening star., 1960-10-09
By MIRIAM GUTENBERG
Star stan Writer

star STAN Writer
The Federal Government has
moved in to save women from
the futile and dangerous folly
OF using potasSimp permanga-
nate in attempted abortions.
Prompted by reports in medi-
cal journals of more than 1000
cases where the drug has been
miSused, the Food and Drug
Administration has taken the
unusual step of banning the
over-the-counter sale of tablets
or crystals of potassium per-
manganate.
After october %, druggists
will be subject to prosecution If
they sell the tablets or crystals
without a prescription.
The only potassium perman-
ganate excepted from the rul-
ing is a weak solution contain
ing no more than .04 per cent
of the drug and this must be
labeled: Warrington exter-
nal use on the skin only. Sc
we're injury may result from use
internally or as a douche. Avoid
contact with mucous men,
braneS."
Decision Hailed
The Food and Drug Admin
istration decision was hailed
enthusiastically by Washing
ton physicians who have been
trying for years to get some
control over the sale of the
drug.
At District General Hospital
alone, approximately 40 women
a year are brought in suffering
from the effects of using potas-
SUM permanganate in the mis-
taken belief that it will produce
an abortion.
ObStetricianS practicing at
other hospitals here believe that
those who enter the city hos
pital are only a fraction of the
women vainly attempting abor-
tion by this means.
In a recent Washington case,
where a woman bled to death
at home while attempting an
abortion, evidence was found
that she had tried or was plan
ming to try potassium perman-
ganate.
Survey Showed Misuse
AS early as December, 1856,
the District Health Department
and members of the District
Medical Society Joined in a
public warning against the use
Of the drug in attempted abor-
ton.
The Star made a survey of
medical opinion and found
obstetricians in agreement that
misuse of the drug caused
severe burns; often sent
women to the hospital in a
state Of shock; required as
many as five blood transfu-
Sions to save lives in some
cases; caused permanent in
jury to other vital organs, and
frequently required surgery
either then or later during
childbirth.
At the time Of the survey,
George P. Larrick, commits
sioner Of the Food and Drug
Administration. declared that !
misuse Of the drug had become
such a Nationwide problem
that his agency intended ito
tell the world it should be
sold by prescription only"
But the medical experts ran
into a roadblock. The whole
philosophy of the Federal |
Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
is to handle drugs through |
labelling, rather than prescrip-
ton, where it Is possible to
write directions for self-use In
medication. i
Legitimate Uses Cited
Legal officers questioned the
idea OF restricting a drug that
caused injury only when it was .
misused-that is. used differ
emily from the directions on the
label.
There was and is a legitimate
medical use for the drug. In.
solution, it is used as a foot
bath for athletes foot, and for
such skin irritations as poison
ivy. But its legitimate use in
medication is in a very weak
solution as a mild antiseptic.
The only way the Food and
Drug Administrators Bureau