BEER v. T.B.

Opunake Times, 15 November 1949, Page 2

BEER v. T.B.

Beer drinkers have been stimulated by news from the United States that a new drug, extracted from hops, has been useful against tuberculosis. The drug is lupulon, already known for its sedative properties and for its effect in stopping muscle spasms. In laboratory experiments in the United States, research workers found that lupulon successively inhibited the growth of tubercle bacteria. One hundred mice were infected with tuberculosis and treated with lupulon. In most cases a decrease in the severity of tuberculosis in the body tissues and organs was noted. #3ut it was still hard luck on the mice, because the ones "which received the drug through the muscles developed distressing kidney ailments. Whether they were just drunk is not quite clear. It would be some time before the treatment is tried on humans, research workers in the California University .Medical School warned. When the subject cropped up in a local hotel bar, drinkers thought t m/ght ba the greatest discovery since riboflavin. "But too many people around here will have built up a resistance to this drug," it was suggested. They were sceptical, too, at prospects that a beer ration might be one day included In the Social Security benefits.