Re[2]: Letow Schnapps
January 2nd, 2009 From
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>Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 23:33:44 -0500 (EST)
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>To: mahan@microworks.net
>From: rickt@cris.com (Eric Bergerud)
>Subject: Re: Re[2]: Letow Schnapps
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> > I suspect they were “good capitalists” with their license revenues
> > waiting for them after the war. So that they had funds on hand to get
> > back to work with after the inevitable departure of the Austrian
> > Corporal.
> >
> > One clarification: Cinchona may be/have been raised in Indonesia, but
> > its original source is South America.
> >
> > I have heard of this Japanese controlled source problem before. But
> > what about the original source? Did they, maybe, use Atabrine just
> > ’cause it was cheaper? Or maybe the South American supply is/was not
> > adequate to satisfy the demand?
> >
> > Bill Riddle
> >
>You’re right of course. Quinine is arguably the oldest significant medicinal
>herb that actually works and dates from the early Spanish Empire. The
>appropriate volume in the series of the Army’s medical history details the
>development of atabrine industry by US. They cited lack of supply – it may
>well be that it had become a plantation crop by the 20th Century and
>something that you cannot create quickly. The sheer numbers of tablets were
>staggering. Several vets told me that quinine (some was around early in the
>war) had uncomfortable side effects – especially a ringing in the ears. BTW:
>atabrine’s side effects were NOT well known at the time it was being “field
>tested” on US and allied troops (medical supplies were high on the Lend
>Lease priority list). Rumors concerning sterility and it’s known tendency to
>yellow the skin caused customer resistence at first. Officers were ordered
>to force men to take it at mess. The reality of malaria attacks overcame
>this barrier and the stuff was accepted readily soon enough. Guess no harm
>was done. Either that or post WWII lawyers had not yet honed their art to
>today’s degree.
>Eric Bergerud, 531 Kains Ave, Albany CA 94706, 510-525-0930