4
ments. I hope the proponents will enlighten this committee with answers regarding
the effectiveness of DMSO. By the same token, I ask the opponents to carefully
consider the adverse effects of this drug and try to dispell any myths about DMSŎ
as a miracle drug for the treatment of arthritis.
Given the fact that DMSO has not been thoroughly tested in the laboratory, I
urge the Food and Drug Administration to initiate appropriate testing. I also urge
those pharmaceutical companies involved in the production of DMSO to conduct
scientific tests and provide thorough documentation regarding DMSO. Before any
decisions are made as to the future use of DMSO on humans, scientific evidence is
needed in order to ascertain beyond a shadow-of-a-doubt that DMSO is relatively
safe.
Since a disproportionate number of arthritis victims are older people, this age
group is more likely to seek DMSO as an alternative treatment for arthritis. Special
attention must be given to this age group in testing DMSO. This includes a thor-
ough analysis of the physiological and chemical changes associated with the aging
process and how these changes may alter the effectiveness of DMSO and/or maxi-
mize its adverse side-effects. Bodily changes in the later years of life are often
attributed to various diseases associated with old age. Therefore, it is of the utmost
importance to examine these changes within the context of prescribing a new
treatment for a disease such as arthritis which invariably strikes many older
persons.
In addition, consumer education as to the availability of DMSO and possible side-
effects must be disseminated. Consumer education should include safeguards against
those who might otherwise oversimplify the potential benefits of DMSO.
Let us be prudent and not sign off DMSO as a panacea. Only with such prudence
can we protect the health of the general public. We also do not want to create a
situation like the controversial drug laetrile which has generated litigation and
confused the public.
The CHAIRMAN. Now, our first witness is the Hon. Robert
Duncan, able Representative in the House of the great State of
Oregon, chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee of the
House Appropriations Committee, one of the important members of
our body. We are delighted that he has come here this morning to
give us his experience with respect to DMSO.
STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT DUNCAN, A
MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OREGON
Mr. DUNCAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I have appreciated the opportunity to be here. I consider it my
prime mission here this morning to introduce Dr. Jacob, the scien-
tist who first observed the amazing qualities of dimethyl sulfoxide.
As an Oregon son, I am proud of the work that Dr. Jacob and the
university school have done in this field.
Someone told me the other day this is a byproduct of the wood
products industry. I said I am proud of the fact that the forests of
the State of Oregon are furnishing not only the building materials
to house the people of this country, but we also have the potential
to use all the tree, including the squeal, and use some of the
chemical properties of the timber we grow to bring relief to people
afflicted by a wide variety of illnesses.
I served in the Congress, as you know, in a prior incarnation
from the Fourth Congressional District. I guess I first met Dr.
Jacob and became interested in DMSO at that time. I was influen-
tial in setting up one of the first meetings with the FDA and
getting the tests lined up to see if it was efficacious to meet the
standards.
At that time I remember Dr. Jacob brought with him a distin-
guished physician from the Cleveland Clinic and the subject matter
was scleroderma which Dr. Jacob will describe to you far more
