Standard Examiner Nov 14 49 New Drug to Heal Ulcers Shown at Medical Confab By Howard W. Blakeslee Associated Press Science Editor CINCINNATI, Nov. 14 A new, synthetic, nerve control drug, Banthine, is healing bad peptic ulcers. The results were exhibited for the first time to the Southern Medical association, which today began a four day annual meeting. This way of controlling stomach action is something new in the long search for ulcer remedies. The drug substitutes for the action of a surgeons knife on the stomachs control nerves. In 20 cases all apparently healed. Some ulcers were perforating, that is eating holes, but Xrays show that these too healed. Pain Stopped at Once Eighteen patients were suffering severe ulcer pains. In all cases pain stopped a few minutes after the drug was given. It is taken by mouth every few hours. The exhibit is from Duke university and the work was supported by a grant from the U. S. public health service. The work was shown by doctors Keith S. Grimson, professor of surgery, and Frank H. Longino and C. Keith Lyons, U. S. public health service fellows. Banthine is one of a score of new drugs tried at Duke for effects in blocking the nerves that control high blood pressure and stomach action. But it is not a blood pressure remedy. It is made by G. D. Searle & Co., Chicago. Excess Stomach Acid The cause of ulcers is not known. Doctors agree that contributing conditions are excess stomach acid, rapid stomach movements and probably overactive nerves. Banthine slows down stomach movements. It does this by a block of the same nerves which are severed ill stomach ulcer surgery. After the drug, food empties itself more slowly. In most Duke cases acid also dropped. But in a few, the acid rose after Banthine. Yet these ulcers got well, too. The Duke researchers point to results of 135 surgical operations as a sign that the drug is on the right track. In none of these nerve cutting cases have the ulcers recurred. Whether ulcers will recur with the drug is unknown because it has been used only about five months. But to date it has shown no bad effects. Linings Turn Red The drugs power was shown dramatically in dogs stomachs. When the animals vagus nerves were stimulated, their stomach linings turned an angry red. But the linings didnt turn red after a dose of Banthine. Experiments indicate that the reddened stomach condition is a forerunner of ulcers. Six other persons at Duke have been given the new drug for other gastro intestinal troubles than ulcers, with reported marked benefits.