Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 48 — page 122: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SPECIAL LETTER MEDICAL PROGRESS BY A.D. 2000 From Dr. P.Z.H., M.D., Birming- ham. (Full name and address with- held by request.): Might I crave the hospitality of your excellent magazine to level a certain amount of criticism at Mr. Jackson on his article on medical progress (No. 45). While it is true that your con- tributor’s effort is on the whole fairly well-informed, some of his statements will bear correction, if your science-avid public is not to be misled. I would agree that present-day anesthetics are far from perfect, though certainly a considerable improvement on Simpson’s chloro- form dropper. Mr. Jackson’s views on muscle relaxation seem to me to imply, however, that he ignores the necessity for a selective relaxation: that is, the respiratory semi-volun- tary muscles must not under any circumstances share the paresis- producing effect of all curariform myodepressants unless one desires an asphyxiated patient. And curare has been in use for over two years in the theatre, as well as for cen- turies in the jungle. Mr. Jackson’s implication seems to be that streptomycin is largely an experimental antibiotic: “future experiments with streptomycin will eventually provide the answer.” Might I point out that not only has “strep” been tried for over ten years, but I’m afraid that in some respects it has been found wanting, notably in its tendency to produce drug fastness, being in this respect quite the pleasantest anti- biotic from the point of view of our disgusting little Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 1 should have thought that some mention would be made, in addition, to the valuable help afforded the treatment of T.B. by P.A.S., I.N.A.H., and other drugs in conjunction with streptomycin. Full marks to Jackson, however, for his emphasis on the nutritional, sociological and other aspects of the disease. At the risk of appearing un- patriotic, I have to point out that to my knowledge, a few years before _Ewins gave us_ sulphanilamide, Domagk, in Germany, used the sulpha prototype, prontosil, with good effect—this is not to minimise the excellent work done by our workers in the field, but to give honour where it is due. Mr. Jack- son’s statements about the treat- ment of pneumonia seem to imply 121 comiclooks.con