WHAT'S IN A NAME?
I WAS THERE TO INFLICT DEATH
Thalidomide was first synthesised in Switzerland in 1952 and initially discarded as useless. It was rediscovered later in Germany and introduced as an over-the-counter sedative and ‘wonder drug’ for headaches, coughs, and insomnia in Germany in the late 1950s. Soon it was available in dozens of countries. The drug was never tested on pregnant women before it was put on the market. It became popular with pregnant women because it alleviated morning sickness, among other ailments. Estimates hold that 2000 babies died, and 12,000 were born with birth defects before Thalidomide was pulled from stores in the early 1960s. Typical of the deformities was phocomelia, limbs resembling the flippers of seals, but children’s eyes, ears, teeth, and genitalia were also affected. Only 17 such cases were reported in the United States, because the FDA never approved the drug. The scientist who blocked multiple applications by the manufacturer Richardson Merrill for its use, Francis Kelsey, was given the President’s Award for Distinguished Service by Kennedy in 1962, the second woman ever to receive the medal. As of 1998, when Thalidomide was approved for strictly controlled use for patients of cancer, leprosy, AIDS, and other serious conditions, there were about 5000 survivors of Thalidomide births, the New York Times reported. Fewer than 3000 live on today. Sylvia Plath gave a cryptic poem about miscarriage the title ‘Thalidomide’.
There is a character, of sorts, called the Thalidomide Kid in the new Cormac McCarthy books, and you can read my review of them for the London Review of Books here.
Other recent work
A review of John le Carré’s letters in the new issue of Bookforum. (More on Bookforum in this space soon.)
An essay on Christopher Lasch in the new issue of Jacobin.
NOTE TO READERS: As I have just handed in the three above pieces and a fourth, much longer piece that won’t see the light of day until March, there will be a lot of activity in this space as I come down to earth and have my say on certain matters. Stick with me and I hope you enjoy it. Happy New Year!