Kirby book excerpt Evidence of Harm

[Guest guest]

This was forwarded to me. It's an excerpt from Kirby's book

entitled: " Evidence of Harm " .

Despite Lilly's repeated claims that thimerosal was safe, many

researchers had sent the company documents dating back to the 1930's,

each raising a red flag about thimerosal. Lilly was advised

repeatedly that their conclusions of low toxicity were wrong.

For example, a 1935 letter from the Director of Biological Services

of the Pittman- Company to Dr. son of Eli Lilly, alerted

the company that " we have obtained marked local reaction in about 50

percent of the dogs injected with serum containing dilutions of

Merthiolate (thimerosal) varying from 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 5,000...no

connection between the lot of serum and the reaction. In other words,

Merthiolate is unsatisfactory as a preservative for serum intended

for use on dogs. "

As further proof, Waters offered the following timeline:

1947 Article received by Lilly: " No eruptions or reactions have been

observed or reported to merthiolate (the trade name for thimerosal)

internally, but it may be dangerous to inject a serum containing it

into a patient sensitive to merthiolate. "

1948 Article received by Lilly: " Merthiolate is such a commonly used

preservative for biologicals, plasma, cartilage, etc., that it would

seem important to determine whether harm would result following its

subcutaneous or intravenous injection in skin sensitive individuals. "

1950 New York Academy of Science article, " Mercurials as Antiseptics "

says merthiolate " is toxic when injected parenterally and cannot be

used in chemotherapy. "

1963 Article received by Lilly: " There is another point of practical

significance: does the parenteral injection of merthiolate-containing

fluids cause disturbances in merthiolate-sensitive patients? It is

known that persons that are contact-sensitive to a drug may tolerate

the same medications internally, but it seems advisable to use a

preservative other than merthiolate for injections in merthiolate-

sensitive people. "

1967 The company's Medical/Science department requests that the

claim " non-toxic " on thimerosal labels be deleted in next printing

run.

1972 The British Medical Journal reports cases of skin burns

resulting from the chemical interaction of thimerosal and

aluminum. " Mercury is known to act as a catalyst and to cause

aluminum to oxidize rapidly, with the production of heat, " it said.

1972 Article received by Lilly: Merthiolate in vaccines caused six

deaths - " The symptoms and clinical course of the six patients

suggest subacute mercury poisoning. "

1976 Lilly responds to Rexall Drug Company's efforts to place the

following warning: " Frequent or prolonged use or application to large

areas may cause mercury poisoning. " Lilly objects to the " connection

of our trademark with the unjustified alarm and concern on the part

of the user which the statement is likely to cause. We are not aware

of any instance of 'mercury poisoning' after decades of marketing

this product. This is because the mercury in the product is

organically bound ethylmercury as a completely non-toxic nature, not

methylmercury. "

1983 Additional language is added to some labels: " If you are

pregnant or nursing a baby, seek the advice of a health professional

before using this product. "

1991 Lilly ceases manufacture and sale of thimerosal. Licensing

agreements demonstrate continued profits from the product until at

least 2010.

1999 Lilly prints a new Material Safety Data Sheet (or MSDS) for lab

workers and emergency personnel on proper procedures for handling

thimerosal. The preservative, it says, can cause: " Nervous System and

Reproduction Effects; Effects of exposure include fetal changes;

Mercury poisoning may occur; Exposure in children may cause mild to

severe mental retardation; Hypersensitivity to mercury is a medical

condition aggravated by exposure; Hazardous substance, toxic waste

disposal. "

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Letter from Director of Biological Services, Pittman-

Company, to W.A. son, Director of Biological Division, Eli

Lilly, July 22, 1935; SOURCE: Mercury in Medicine – Taking

Unnecessary Risks – A Report Prepared by the Staff of the

Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness, Committee on Government

Reform, U.S. House of Representatives, May 2003.