Science Past From The Issue Of October 10, 1959

In the February 25 Issue:

Science Past from the issue of October 10, 1959

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Reserpine Tranquilizes Chickens and Turkeys Calmer birds in the hen house are predicted with the development of a tranquilizer for chickens. A new product containing reserpine, a drug used to control high blood pressure and other human ills, has been developed.... Added to the chickens’ feed in very low concentrations it is said to help the chicken withstand stress. Treated chickens had a higher survival rate and produced more and higher quality eggs than did hens on a standard diet. They also are not bothered as much by crowding, social maladjustment, temperature extremes and disease. CIBA researchers claim the product is also economic because feed waste is reduced. The sedate treated chickens scratch less food out of the feeder and onto the ground. Turkeys were included in the study. The drug is said to help control ruptured aorta, a deadly affliction of turkeys.

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And they hardly squawk at all when they're Kentucky Fried!

Brian Hall

Sep. 27, 2009 at 6:10am
Dear ScienceNews,
I hope this note finds you well. My impressions is that fatigue:depression::dementia:psychosis. As you are aware significant deficiencies of Thiamine and/or Niacin cause severe fatigue and dementia, which are unfortunately often misdiagnosed as depression and psychosis.
Simply obtaining serum levels of those Vitamines won't necessarily elucidate the blockage of their pathways, or deficiencies.
Clinically speaking, reserpine depletes catecholamines and seems to cause significant fatigue, perhaps misinterpreted as depression or worse.
Here is an excerpt from my 2008 Comment regarding the Judy Garland Obituary and perhaps an etiology for her possible medical misadventures-

"I mention this only to underline the fact that we are all Metabolic Computers, relying on proper Nutrition and rest to function properly. The fact that ingested compounds, even certain plants, can cause fatigue and depression
has been known for a long time, as noted by a Medical School Text-
From Goodman and Gilman's "The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics" Sixth
Edition, pages 202-203

"Reserpine
Descriptions of the use of extracts of plants resembling rauwolfia may be traced back to ancient hindu ayurvedic writings. They were used in primitive hindu
medicine for a variety of diseases- hypertension etc.
Therapeutic applications were described in an asian indian medical journal in 1931 by Sen and Bose. Little attention was paid to this finding until 1955, when Vakil wrote the first report of its antihypertensive effect in a Western Medical Journal.

Locus and Mechanism of Action.
Reserpine depletes stores of catecholamines and 5-HT (5- Hydroxytryptamine, aka Serotonin) in many organs, including the brain and adrenal medulla, and most of
its pharmacological effects have been attributed to this action.
Reduced concentrations of catecholamines can be measured within an hour after administration of reserpine, and depletion is maximal by 24 hours. Most of the
catecholamine is deaminated intraneuronally- .

Toxicity, Side Effects, and Precautions-
-even small doses of reserpine can produce a considerable incidence of
nightmares and psychic depression."

Considering the large numbers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome cases occurring in this Country, I would suggest that Physicians and Scientists revisit the use of reserpine or Thiamine anti-metabolites such as amprolium in the food chain, and possibly remove both, since toxicities might be additive and cause fatigue and dementia, aka depression & psychosis.
Best wishes always.
Keep up the good work.

Cordially,

Joseph W Arabasz MD
Past Division Chairman, Anesthesiology, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
Past Chairman, Respiratory Therapy, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
Diplomate ABA
Mensa
Sigma Xi, The Professional International Science Research Society
< [Link was removed] >
PO Box 6939
Denver, CO 80206
303-316-1740
[Link was removed]
-------------------------------------------------------

Joseph Arabasz MD

Dec. 27, 2009 at 6:22pm

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