Evening star., 1963-01-15
HEARING
Men Over 40 Called
Targets for Cures

80
described as "a product of ex-
treme dilution, being one part
Of whatever the active ingredi-
ent is supposed to be to 100, 900
parts Of light mineral OIL"
This cure" he reported,
SELLS for $3.50 for a Ice.
ampule, which is about one
fifth Of a tablespoon. Compe-
tent micro-chemists have testi-
fled to their inability to find
anything in an ampule Of this
product but the mineral oil"
Chairman Mcnamara told
the ANA witnesses that the
committee had checked drug
prices in Washington drugstores
and found that, while ordinary
aspirin sold for 20 cents to 80
cents per 100, Bayer aspirin,
Anacin, Bufferin, Emperin and
Excedrin sold for 3la times as
much. He wanted to know if
there were any significant diff
ferences in the pain relievers.
/ Oliver Field, director of
AMA's department Of investi-
cation. said they all had an
aspirin base and that to be
labeled aspirin they had to
meet Federal requirements.
THE truth is that If you pay
10 cents or a dollar for a bottle,
it's all the same" he said.
Victim Testifies
A first-hand report of how
pain will drive the victim to
seek relief at any cost was
given the committee by Jerry
j. Walsh, 40, an all-State ath-
lete in Ohio before he was
stricken by rheumatoid arthri-
tis at the age of l8.
IF you're in this bed of
pain. you will try anything to
stop the pain" Mr.. Walsh tes-
titled. you don't Keep track Of
the dollars. You're always look
ing for some relief"
Mr.. Walsh, now executive di-
rector Of the Illinois Chapter,
Arthritis and Rheumatism
Foundation. said he spent Az
years in bed before he started
fighting his way back into So
ciety. While he was getting
proper treatment. he also was
trying every gadget from put
ting buckeye in his pocket, be-
cause he was from Ohio. to
drinking q World War I dis
infectant.
He said he was sick and
tired Of being exploited" by the
ouacks, but he candidly ad-
mitted that "if someone with
q glib tongue approached me
now. / might sneak in a treat
ment because I want to get
better"
Books, Articles Attacked
Or. Ronald w. lamont
Havers, national medical di-
rector Of the Arthritis and
Rheumatism Foundation. in his
testimony attacked "irrespon-
sible journalism" which puts
on the market worthless books
and magazine articles.
He particularly cited an ar
ticle in the May, 1862, Look
Magazine, entitled New Ar
thrills Controversy" which
dealt with a hormone combina-
ton developed in Canada.
They knew this wasn't a
secret cure" he said. I'VE
warned them OF the side ef-
fects. There have been two
deaths from this in a Montreal
hospital in the last three
months. tt
He said the Food and Drug
Administration had blocked
the drugs entry into this
country and warned against IL
but that the damage was al
ready done by the artie,.
DR.. LamonsHavers also crit
icized the publishers who put
out "Arthritis and Folk Med
icine." by ID. c. Jarvis, Bee
Venom" by DR.. Joseph Board
man. and "Arthritis Can Be
Cured" by DR.. Bernard Ashner
MiiliOn surfer
Or. Russell l.. Cecil. consult
ing medical director Of the
{. Arthrits Rheumatism Founda-
ton. quoted a Public Health
Service report that srthritis
and rheumatism are the most
prevalent chronic conditions
over as. with close 10 nine mill
lion victims in this age group
Older people are being bonn
barded constantly by misleading
claims OF lasting relief and
cure he said. yet they are
the least able TO afford this
exploitation. Savings are being
eaten up and already delicate
health tAmpered with. Even
harmless connections are dam
gerous because they encourage
people 10 avoid adequate treAt Y
ment."