DRUG DANGER WARNING

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1936, Page 2

DRUG DANGER WARNING

PYRAMIDON UNDER SUSPICION LONDON, ’December 21. Two St. Pancras inquests have focussed the attention of medical circles upon a rare disease, which has become prominent in this country only 'Comparatively recently. It is known as agranulocytosis, and the symptoms somewhat resemble those of diphtheria. Medical authorities assert that one of the chief causes of the disease is— Pyramidon, a drug frequently prescribed in the treatment of rheumatism and gout. On Thursday Mr. W. Bentley Purchase, the St. Pancras coroner, at an inquest on a woman who had taken some rheumatism tablets, issued a warning against the use of the drug. Yesterday Sir Bernard Spilsbury told Mr. Purchase at another inquest that he suspected pyramidon poisoning. The inquest was on Arthur Donald, 47, of Stanley-gardens, Willesden. His widow said he had been in poor health for two years,, and had. received medical treatment for rheumatism. He had taken one bottle of tablets, which he obtairied from a chemist. Later, he complained of shivering and a sore throat.

Sir Bernard said that a post-mortem examination revealed a condition identical with that in a case of pyramidon poisoning which he investigated a few days ago.

Adjourning the inquest, the coroner said that the man had apparently taken only one bottle of tablets, and there was no suggestion that they contained pyramidon. Neither had his doctor given him any sedative.

DOCTORS’ OPINIONS Pyramidon, as a causative factor in agranulocytosis, was discussed at the Royal Society of Medicine, as reported in yesterday’s “British Medical Journal.” Prof. L. J. Witts said it was relatively rare, although 1,600 people had died of it in America. Pyramidon must be regarded as the chief cause of it.

A high proportion of cases occurred in doctors’ families, and the samples which found their way through the doctors’ letterbox might have something to do with that. The time had come when pyramidon should he regarded as a dangerous drug; all-reme-dies embodying it should have the fact clearly printed on the container, and those prescribing it should exercise the’ same scrupulous care as with morphine or atophan. Sir William Willcox said he had prescribed pyramidon very largely in rheumatic cases, and a retired colleague, Dr. A. P. Luff, a well-known specialist on arthritis and gout, had used it in thousands of cases as his favourite prescription. The curious thing was that these cases had occurred during the last few years. He had never seen agranulocytosis caused by pyramidon in his own practice. He accepted the statement that the drug was one of the common causes of the disease, but he would not go as far as Prof. Witts in saying that the majority of the cases were due to it. Prof. Witts had incriminated salol, he added. He thought that was the first time salol had been quoted as a cause, and if salol, then their “universal friends” aspirin would soon come into the picture.