A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH

The Incredible Story of Krebiozen"" continues Herbert Bailey's vehement account and defense of this drug (and attack against organized medicine) which he originally made in his first book- which Hermitage published in 1955, at about the same time when George Stoddard wrote his discreditization, (Beacon). Certainly, much as in the Hiss-Chambers case, one is left with the same sense that there are many in this controversy- on both sides; that Bailey's partisanship lacks scientific detachment; and that with so much evidence, there are still some unexplained factors and rather unbelievable claims. Most of this book retraces much of the material presented in the first: the Durovics' Importation of the drug they developed in Argentina; Dr. Ivy's (the former head of the University of Illinois Medical School, and vice-president under Stoddard- both of whom were deposed) sponsorship; the results of the first tests; the damaging effects of the publicity releases and the blackballing by the A.M.A., the falsifications of evidence against what was always termed a ""secret preparation"" (and still is); etc. etc. Some of the newer material is based on the findings of the five year period (the 70% beneficial results on 687 patients tested) which Dr. Ivy released in the book Regnery published last year..... It remains a fascinating story in many respects (if Bailey's allegations are all bona fide) frightening -- and perhaps this second presentation will override the restrictive (review, advertising, and distribution wise) handicaps raised against the first.