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From: paul@phs.UUCP (Paul C. Dolber)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Laetrile, a B vitamin?
Message-ID: <996@phs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Feb-85 09:47:22 EST
Article-I.D.: phs.996
Posted: Mon Feb 11 09:47:22 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Feb-85 03:39:59 EST
References: <532@tesla.UUCP> <690@wucs.UUCP> <6104@rochester.UUCP> <8013@brl-tgr.ARPA> <575@mako.UUCP>, <328@bbnRe: Laetrile, a B vitamin?
Organization: Dept. Physiol., DUMC
Lines: 50

A few comments from my favorite authority, The Merck Index, Tenth Edition:

   "Pharmacology and cyanide toxicity studies of amygdalin (laetrile):
   C.G. Moertel et al., J Am Med Assoc 245, 591 (1981); M.M. Ames et al.,
   Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 6, 51 (1981).... Amygdalin (laetrile)
   is a toxic drug that is not effective as a cancer treatment: C.G.
   Moertel et al., New Engl. J. Med. 306, 201 (1982). Review of the
   controversial use of amygdalin (laetrile): V. Herbert, Am. J. Clin.
   Nutr. 32, 1121-1158 (1979)... Note: The misleading term vitamin B17
   has sometimes been applied to amygdalin."

And from another favorite, Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dicitionary:

   "vitamin... Any of a group of organic substances other than proteins,
   carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and organic salts which are essential
   for normal metabolism, growth, and development of the body... they
   are indispensable for normal functions and the maintenance of
   health."

(Hmm... doesn't really sound like laetrile fits here, eh?)

Finally: If an adult with an otherwise incurable cancer opts for laetrile
treatment, well, fine, OK by me. But if an adult with an otherwise curable
cancer or who is the parent of a child with an otherwise curable cancer
opts for laetrile treatment, well, that's not fine with me. I realize
that such an opinion can touch off a lengthy debate (e.g., can
Jehovah's Witnesses withhold blood transfusions for their children?
Can name-your-favorite-religious-splinter-group withhold any treatment
for their children on the basis that God will heal them?); I don't
really wish to participate in such a debate. Suffice it to say that
most or all doctors don't want to restrict your freedom of choice,
they want to preserve your life.

Regards, Paul Dolber (...duke!phs!paul) -- not an M.D.

PS: I first read about laetrile in a pamphlet in a chiropractor's
office (attended by my mother-in-law: chacun a son gout) where it
was also pointed out that it was clear that the AMA was out to kill
all Christians. The evidence was clear: The current president's name
was Fishbein [I think; it's been years]; "fish" is, of course, the
symbol of the Christian church; Fishbein is/was a Jew; and "bein"
is German for poison [Oh, I may have got that wrong, too; I don't
know any German; but that's how the argument ran]. Laetrile was,
of course, highly praised, and the AMA was only against it because
so many Christians would be cured. Reminded me of the oft-repeated
rumor I used to hear (back when I was doing cancer research) that
the cure for cancer had already been found, but the AMA and NIH
were withholding the cure because releasing it would put a host of
researchers out of work. Natch.