SLIMMING ENDS IN BLINDNESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 December 1935, Page 8

SLIMMING ENDS IN BLINDNESS

DRUG CAUSES CASES IN U.S. Cases of blindness produced in America by the use of dinitrophenol for slimming are referred to in a recent issue of the “British Medical Journal.” In that country, it is stated, the use of the drug for this purpose has gone to much greater lengths than in Britain. Six cases of blindness were reported in one recent issue of an American medical journal. “Young adult and middle-aged patients who have been taking dinitrophenol,” says the “Journal,” ( “find after a time blurring of the vision, which rapidly goes on to blindness from complete lens opacity. “It would appear that operative results from dinitrophenol cataract are satisfactory. One point that emerges from the study of these reports is that the cataract may develop some time after the patient has discontinued the treatment.” An increasing number of cases in America of dinitrophenol " poisoning are also reported. “Of 22 persons taking this drug,” it is stated, “six developed toxic symptoms. The condition started in the toes, with pricking, numbness, and pain.”