THE NEW DRUGS

Evening Star, Issue 20983, 23 December 1931, Page 13

THE NEW DRUGS

SOME EXAGGERATED HOPES Many new drugs have been introduced in the past year or two, but the hopes with which they were launched have proved to be exaggerated, an authority states in an interview with a representative of the London ‘ Observer.' One, nembutal, has been described as being used for putting a patient in a happy, sleepy condition before giving a general anaesthetic. The authority consulted, who has had considerable experience of its effect upon animals, stated that he does not regard it as of any particular value. It belongs, he explained, to a class of drugs which are dissolved and injected into the patient with the idea either of producing a deep sleep or, in larger doses, a sufficient degree of anaesthesia to enable surgical operations to be performed. These drugs have the advantage, he said—if it may be called an advantage —that they do not need a skilled anaesthetist to administer them. With an ordinary volatile anaesthetic like ether skill and experience are required, so that it may bo giveirsafely and satisfactorily. Nembutal has been introduced largely with the idea of saving trouble and enabling less skilled persons to administer it. But the serious thing is that there is a comparatively, small margin between the dose which will produce anaesthesia safely, and the dose ■ which will produce poisonous effects. Individual patients, moreover, vary, it was pointed out, in their reactions to the drug. Some tolerate less, others need more, so that the result one gets is uncertain, and may be dangerous. One can never, in fact, toll in advance what the effect of the drug will be. And once it is given the step taken can never be retraced, and there is little one can do to modify its course if the amount ipyg fisfigggiy& i