Massengill's Elixir Sulfanilamide: The Scramble to Confiscate (7)

Alabama

A total of 16 gallons of Elixir Sulfanilamide, nearly all of which were shipped from Bristol in pint bottles, found their way to 9 physicians' offices and 70 drug stores in 57 communities dispersed throughout the state. Before stocks could be confiscated by federal authorities, 37 prescriptions (including 2 for 1 individual) were either wholly or partially consumed. The consequences of 2 additional prescriptions dispensed in Eufaula could not be determined, despite local radio broadcasts that warned of the elixir's dangers and urged the return of prescriptions. Two over-the-counter purchases were also made in the state.

In addition to the 4 known Alabama deaths in Eufaula and Headland, which were reported nationally on October 23,* FDA officials discovered the following elixir-related casualties:

• In Clayton, 2 prescriptions (one for 6 ounces and another for 4 ounces) resulted in the death of John (or Johney) C. Holloway, age unknown, on September 24.
• In Clio, a 2-ounce prescription to Ewell Daughtrey, age unknown, resulted in her death on September 26 in Waycross, Georgia.
• In Ariton, Ethel Colston ("adult") drank about 8 tablespoons of her elixir prescription. She died sometime in October (exact date currently unknown). In this case, the FDA reported the "complication of possible cerebral hemorrhage."
• Martin Smith, age unknown, of Pisgah also died sometime in October after receiving a 3-ounce prescription; however, the FDA couldn't "prove" that his death was elixir induced.
• In Mobile, a partially consumed 3-ounce prescription resulted in the death of "baby" Glendyne Mallon on October 10.
• Another 3-ounce prescription was dispensed in Demopolis to Ed Scott, age unknown, who died October 14. The FDA did not recover any remaining elixir, because Scott's prescription bottle was placed in his casket.
• Two-year-old Betty Joe Story, of Arab, died October 16 after drinking some portion of a 6-ounce prescription for Elixir Sulfanilamide.

During the course of the investigation in Alabama, a "vicious deliberate lie" (as the FDA's J. O. Clarke characterized it) was discovered in Enterprise, where a local druggist reported selling 8 ounces of elixir over the counter to a "stranger." Persistent investigation by state and federal officials "failed to shake the story of this consignee," to determine the identity of the purchaser. Only later did the FDA discover that two 4-ounce bottles of elixir had been sold by the druggist for the treatment of Edward Walker. The boy died of acute nephritis on October 3 in a Dothan hospital, about 30 miles away. After his son's death, Charles Walker wrote the state's Public Health Service, stating that he suspected his son died of elixir poisoning. Mr. Walker submitted a portion of the elixir, which had, in fact, been purchased from the Enterprise druggist, to the FDA's New Orleans Station.

SENDING YOU PORTION DRUG I WANT ANALYZED. IT WAS PRESCRIBED FOR MY BOY. HE WAS TAKEN ACUTELY ILL AND DIED OF DISEASE DOCTORS DIAGNOSED ACUTE BRIGHTS.

A small sample of a reddish liquid was forwarded to the FDA's Baltimore laboratory for confirmatory analysis [1-4].

In Alabama, 37 elixir prescriptions (including 2 for 1 individual) and 1 over-the-counter purchase were associated with the deaths of 12 people (fatality rate, 32%).

Mississippi

Nearly 13 gallons of Massengill's elixir were distributed to 6 physicians' offices, 36 drug vendors, and 1 hospital in 36 communities [1]. A total of 70 prescriptions were written in the state. In 2 cases, 2 prescriptions (an original and a refill) were written for each of 2 patients, and 3 related children shared 1 prescription.

In addition to the publicized deaths in Mt. Olive (5), nearby Magee (2), Laurel/Ellisville (5), and Philadelphia (1),** the following elixir-related casualties were discovered in Mississippi during the course of the FDA's investigation and seizure. 

Also in Mt. Olive, the Calhoun Drug Company, which was run by the brother of the town's prescribing physician, Archie Calhoun, dispensed a total of 13 elixir prescriptions. Seven recipients died. Like Dr. Calhoun's previously named elixir victims, 2 individuals succumbed. John W. Gibbons, 71, died October 9, and Mrs. Katie Stuckey, 38(?), died sometime between October 5 and October 24. Both had consumed a little more than half of their 4-ounce prescriptions.

In Magee, 2 prescriptions were given to Julia Brown, age unknown, who died (like fellow residents Edie Sullivan and Hettie Young) as a consequence of diethylene glycol poisoning. The date of Brown's death is currently unknown.

In Itta Bena, 4 ounces of elixir were prescribed for Mrs. Robert (Elnore) Perkins, who died October 1 after consuming a portion of the medicine.

In New Albany, consumption of 3 ounces of a 4-ounce prescription resulted in the death of "negro" William Corneel Howell, age unknown, on October 14.

Six ounces of elixir, dispensed on prescription, to "negro" Columbus Bryant, 34, in Cary resulted in his death on October 17 at the John Gaston Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee [5]. Causes of death were "essential hypertension," "multiple cortical hemorrhage of both kidneys" (determined by autopsy), and "uremia."

In Corinth, 4 ounces of elixir were dispensed on prescription to 3-year-old Jerry Strickland on October 11. He drank a total of 1.75 ounces and died October 22.

Several communities in the state's delta county of Yazoo were affected by deaths due to Elixir Sulfanilamide.

In Yazoo City, a 2-ounce prescription was written for Sallie Louise Brown, age unknown, on October 13. She died 11 days later, after drinking less than 1 ounce of the elixir. 

Dr. Homer E. Frizell, who practiced in Deasonville and Vaughan, reported to the FDA inspector that he had dispensed 2-ounce prescriptions to "each of 3 or 4 colored patients." According to Dr. Frizell, the patients claimed that the medicine "made them sick," at which point he emptied out his elixir stock sometime before receiving Massengill's recall wire. The doctor also claimed that he did not know the names of his patients. Further investigation, however, revealed that Walter Bell, age unknown, of Benton was one recipient. He died October 11 after consuming nearly all of his prescription. Another patient was Joe Hewitt, 31(?), of Deasonville, who died of elixir poisoning on October 4. The amount of elixir that Hewitt had consumed was not determined. The FDA also discovered that Dr. Frizell had poured out the unused portion of Massengill's product "so as to refill [the bottle] with another medicine after ill effects began to show up."

In Bentonia, 9 prescriptions (for a total of 44 ounces) resulted in 5 deaths, the dates of which are currently unknown.

• Essie Davis: An unknown amount of a 6-ounce prescription was consumed.
• Henry G. Taylor: 4.75 ounces of a 6-ounce prescription were consumed.
• Franklin Jones: 2.75 ounces of a 4-ounce prescription were consumed.
• Little Martin Shelby: 2.75 ounces of an 8-ounce prescription were consumed.
• Steve Demus: An unknown amount of a 4-ounce prescription was consumed.

In Mississippi, 70 prescriptions for Elixir Sulfanilamide resulted in the deaths of 28 residents (fatality rate, 40%).  

* The previously reported deaths in Eufaula: a baby (possibly Syble G. Singleton), died in September (date unknown); Fannie Zeanah (age unknown), died October 13; and Alfred "Alf" McDade (age unknown), died October 17. In nearby Headland, Anderson Crews (or Cruce), 63, died September 25.

** In Philadelphia, the Davis Drug Company, which had received 1 pint of elixir from Bristol, returned a full 16 ounces to Massengill headquarters during the recall. Analysis, however, revealed that the returned product had been diluted with water. Investigation revealed that two 4-ounce prescriptions had been dispensed. One resulted in the death of Lorene Lewis.

1. FDA correspondence. Report from J. O. Clarke to P. B. Dunbar. November 17, 1937.

2. FDA correspondence. Telegram from G. P. Larrick to FDA, New Orleans Station. December 1, 1937.

3. FDA correspondence. Telegram from J. O. Clarke to FDA, Washington, DC. December 3, 1937.

4. FDA. Part III. Elixir Sulfanilamide Investigation.

5. Tennessee death certificate 3614.

Photo of warehouse in Eufaula, AL, by "Frankie 117" at Flickr.

"Somewhere in Yazoo County" by NatalieMaynor at Flickr.