171
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely yours,
DENNIS E. BURTON.
FLOWERY BRANCH, GA., April 10, 1980.
DEAR HON. CLAUDE PEPPER: I want to congratulate you on what you are doing to
help the scleroderma program.
I am writing you because I have scleroderma and I can tell you it's very painful
though you hurt so long you learn to live with it. Before I started using DMSO I
was swollen and lots of fluid, and my fingers begin to drain, then ulcers come on my
hands. And I couldn't lift anything, couldn't hold things in my hands very well.
They started me on DMSO and I got better and was beginning to use my hands
better, fluid and swelling was gone. I sure hope I can get more.
Since I got out I was getting more ulcers on my fingers and hands, swelling back
up. Before I use DMSO I lay and cry at night I hurt so. I hope and pray I don't have
to go through with that again.
I want to thank you again for what you are doing to help.
Sincerely,
Mrs. BROADUS CRANE.
SELAH, WASH., April 11, 1980.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I have read a great deal about DMSO and have also
used it and seen it used. The relief my mother-in-law received by the use of DMSO
was fantistic. After years of surgery and drugs (approved), she applied DMSO and
within a short time obtained relief from (all) pain. She has tic delaroux in which
there is no cure, just pain and suffering. Even the prescribed approved drugs are of
little value, especially with the side effects and possible overdose and addiction. I
personally administered the DMSO and saw the relief she had. Thereafter she
applied DMSO as needed for her pain and always got relief with no side effects.
Now, out of DMSO and no place to get more she is back to be drugged and suffering.
Other drugs and ointments, etc. are on market with no fuss and all have side
effects, so how can the F.D.A. set judgment of DMSO. We make our choice on many
over counter drugs all with side effects so why keep DMSO out of reach when it can
do so much good. I as many others believe DMSO should be allowed on the market
to all people. The F.D.A. should forget how much money and political aspects they
can receive and have more empathy for their fellow man. Let DMSO go, let it help
the suffering and put a stop to the F.D.A.'s obsession to crucify the people involved
with DMSO.
What are they afraid of a miracle or do they just like to make a big noise and cost
taxpayers more by court cost, investigators, just plain busy work.
I vote for DMSO. Now. It is needed now not 100 years away.
People are suffering now let us help them to live free of all pain if possible.
Sincerely,
JOYCE LOUISE RATLIFF.
NORTEN, OREG., April 12, 1980.
DEAR REPRESENTATIVE PEPPER: I was glad to receive word from Mrs. Barlet,
founder of the Scleroderma International Foundation, about the hearings which
were held relating to the approval of DMSO by the FDA for the treatment of
victims with scleroderma.
This issue came before the FDA last year about this time. I wrote letters to my
Congressman and Senators urging them to make this issue known by contacting the
FDA and voicing my opinion. I am now writing those same letters again this year.
I feel it necessary to briefly describe myself in order to put this issue into
perspective. I was told I had scleroderma in 1973. I am twenty-nine and unable to
work due to this disease. I was a Learning Disability's teacher.
Skin ulcers are characteristic of scleroderma. I have these ulcers on my fingers
and elbows. They are extremely painful, and they take a long time to heal. I'm one
of the lucky patients who uses DMSO. Before I had DMSO, I had ulcers which took
8 months to heal. I've been using DMSO on my skin ulcers since November, 1977.
At the present time there is nothing a doctor can prescribe for scleroderma patients
to use on their ulcers. I know through my experiences that DMSO works. DMSO
helps heal the ulcers, relieves the pain that accompanies them, and softens the
ulcer and the surrounding tissue. The pain which I have experienced from the
