Select Page
IMPORTANT:  This page is for educational purposes only. It is not in any way offered as prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition.  Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual’s acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise.  Persons needing medical care should obtain it from a physician.  Consult your doctor before making any health decision.
Dr. Frederick R. Klenner B.S., M.S., M.D. F.C.C.P.  Reidsville, North Carolina – 1907 – 1984

2005 Orthomolecular Hall of Fame Inductee

Biography & Summary Tribute   –   Publications   –   References

“Orthomolecular” is essentially another word for “nutritional.”

“Vitamin C is the safest substance available to the physician.”

“Some physicians would stand by and see their patient die rather than use ascorbic acid because in their finite minds it exists only as a vitamin.”

Editor's Note: Dr. Klenner buffered his ascorbic acid, which transforms it into sodium ascorbate. This makes it pH neutral and safe for IV use, but requirestwice the oral dose. (Sodium ascorbate has only has half the antioxidant properties of ascorbic acid).

For simple ascorbic acid (Dr. Cathcart's preferred form), the oral doses described by Dr. Klenner can be divided by two. (IV doses stand as described).

Observations On the Dose and Administration of
Ascorbic Acid When Employed Beyond the Range Of A Vitamin In Human Pathology

Journal of Applied Nutrition Vol. 23, No’s 3 & 4, Winter 1971


Comment by Dr. Robert F Cathcart MD:  This paper repeatedly refers to intravenous ascorbic acid.  My personal experience, my talking with Klenner, and with his wife, Annie Klenner, who served as his nurse, would indicate that he means sodium ascorbate. I am especially indebted to Annie Klenner for her descriptions of how Fred made the intravenous solutions of sodium ascorbate.
I’ve written an article for Medical Doctors on how to make intravenous Vitamin C solutions.


Editor’s Note:

Because of the unusually high amounts of ascorbic acid used in Dr. Klenner’s treatment
as reported in his paper, we asked him to verify amounts mentioned. Following is his
answer:

“To the Editor of the ICAN Journal: This will confirm that all ‘quantity’ factors
given in my paper are correct and can be confirmed from hospital and medical office
records. The notation relative to 150 grams represents the amount used for reversing
pathology in a given case and was the amount given over a period of 24 hours. (The I.V.
was continuous.) This was given in three bottles of 5D water, decanting only enough from
1000 c.c. to be replaced by the ‘C’ ampoules.

“Recently the FDA has published a ‘warning’ that too much soda-ascorbate might be
harmful, referring to the sodium ion. In reply to this I can state that for many years I
have taken 10 to 20 grams of sodium ascorbate by mouth daily, and my blood sodium remains
normal. These levels are checked by an approved laboratory. 20 grams each day and my urine
remains at or just above pH 6.”

Signed:

Fred R. Klenner, M.D.


Body of paper

Summary

Appendix – more case histories

Bibliography

Klenner Biography


Ancient History and Homespun Vitamin C Therapies

Folklore of past civilizations report that for every disease afflicting man there is an herb or its
equivalent that will effect a cure. In Puerto Rico the story has
long been told “that to have the health tree Acerola in one’s back
yard would keep colds out of the front door.”[1] The
ascorbic acid content of this cherry-like fruit is thirty times that found in oranges. In Pennsylvania, U.S.A., it was, and for many still is, Boneset,
scientifically called Eupatorium perfoliatum[2].
Although it is now rarely prescribed by physicians, Boneset was the most commonly used
medicinal plant of eastern United States. Most farmsteads had a bundle of dried Boneset in
the attic or woodshed from which a most bitter tea would be meted out to the unfortunate
victim of a cold or fever. Having lived in that section of the country we qualified many
times for this particular drink. The Flu of 1918 stands out very
forcefully in that the Klenners survived when scores about us were dying. Although bitter
it was curative and most of the time the cure was overnight. Several years ago my
curiosity led me to assay this “herbal medicine” and to my surprise and delight
I found that we had been taking from ten to thirty grams of natural Vitamin C at one time.
Even then it was given by body weight. Children one cupful; adults two to three cupfuls.
Cups those days held eight ounces. Twentieth century man seemingly forgets that his
ancestors made crude. drugs from various plants and roots, and that these decoctions,
infusions, juices, powders, pills and ointments served his purpose. Elegant pharmacy has
only made the forms and shapes more acceptable.

Early specifications, action and dosages for administrations.

To understand the chemical behavior of ascorbic acid in human pathology, one must go
beyond its present academic status either as a factor essential for life or as a substance
necessary to prevent scurvy. This knowledge is elementary. Listen
to what appeared in Food and Life Yearbook 1939, U.S. Department of Agriculture[3]: “In fact even when there is not a single outward symptom
of trouble, a person may be in a state of Vitamin C deficiency more dangerous than scurvy
itself. When such a condition is not detected, and continues uncorrected, the teeth and
bones will be damaged, and what may be even more serious, the blood stream is weakened to
the point where it can no longer resist or fight infections not so easily cured as
scurvy.” It is true that without these infinitesimal amounts myriads of body
processes would deteriorate and even come to a fatal halt.

Ascorbic acid has many important functions. It is a powerful oxidizer
and when given in massive amounts; that is, 50 grams to 150 grams, intravenously,
for certain pathological conditions, and “run in” as fast as 20 Gauge needle
will allow, it acts as a “Flash Oxidizer,”[4]
often correcting the pathology within minutes. Ascorbic acid is also a powerful reducing
agent
. Its neutralizing action on certain toxins, exotoxins, virus
infections, endotoxins and histamine
is in direct proportion to the amount of the
lethal factor involved and the amount of ascorbic acid given. At times it is necessary to
use ascorbic acid intramuscularly. It should always be used orally,
when possible, along with the needle.

Scurvy historically the target; today’s goal of high blood levels to
cope with self-induced abuses and physiological traumas.

If one is to employ ascorbic acid intelligently, some index for requirements must be
realized. Unfortunately there exists today a sort of “brand” called “minimum
daily requirements
.” This illegitimate “child” has been
co-fathered by the National Academy of Science and The National
Research Council
and represents a tragic error in judgment. There are many
factors which increase the demand by the body for ascorbic acid, and unless these are
appreciated, at least by physicians, there can be no real progress. It is vitally
important that cognizance be taken of the demand by the body for ascorbic acid far beyond
so-called scorbutic levels. Briefly these demands can be summarized:

  1. The age of the individual;
  2. Habits — such as smoking, the use of alcohol, playing habits;
  3. Sleep, especially when induced artificially;
  4. Trauma.– trauma caused by a pathogen, the trauma of work, the trauma of surgery, the
    trauma to the body produced accidentally or intentionally;
  5. Kidney threshold;
  6. Environment;
  7. Physiological stress;
  8. Season of the year;
  9. Loss in the stool;
  10. Variations in individual absorption;
  11. Variations in “binders” in commercial tablets;
  12. Body chemistry;
  13. Drugs;
  14. Pesticides;
  15. Body weight;
  16. Inadequate storage.

Flexible dosage standards explained as minimal standards.

With such knowledge it is no longer possible to accept a set numerical unit in terms of
minimal daily requirements. This is true because of the simple fact that
people are different and these same people experience different situations at various
times. With ascorbic acid, today’s adequate supply means little or nothing in terms of the
needs for tomorrow. Let us start thinking in terms of maximum requirements.
For too long a time we have under supplied our children and ourselves by accepting through
negative ignorance and acquiescence so-called standards. Based on scant data on mammalian synthesis,
available for the rat, a 70-Kg. individual would produce 1.8 grams[5]
to 4.0 grams[6] of ascorbic acid per day in the unstressed
condition. Under stress, up to 15.2 grams.[7] Compare this to the 70 mg recommended for daily requirements
without stress and 200 mg for the simple stress of the obstetrical patient, and you will
recognize the disparity and understand why we have been waging a one man war against the
establishment in Washington for 23 years.

Ascorbic
acid not synthesized by man

Work on mammalian biosynthesis of ascorbic acid indicates that the Vitamin C story as
is generally accepted represents an oversimplification of available evidence.[8,9,10] This often leads
to misinterpretations and false impressions. It has been proposed
that the biochemical lesion which produces the human need for exogenous sources of
ascorbic acid, is the absence of the active enzyme, l-gulonolactone oxidase from the human
liver[11]. A defect or loss of the gene controlling the
synthesis of this enzyme in man, blocks the final phase in the series for converting
glucose to ascorbic acid. Virus can mutate cells, X-Rays can do it and it can occur by
chance. Such a mutation could have happened, denying all progenies of this mutated animal
the ability to produce ascorbic acid. Survival demanded ascorbic acid from an exogenous
source. This is not remarkable. Other recognized genetic diseases in which a missing
enzyme causes a pathological syndrome, in man, are phenylketonuria, galactosemia and
alkaptonuria.

It is worthy to note that Sealock and Goodland have ascribed to ascorbic acid the
faculty of being the necessary co-enzyme in the metabolic oxidation of tyrosine.
The velocity of the oxidation in this reaction is dependent upon the concentration of
vitamin C. Tyrosine is essential in breaking down protein to usable amino acid. The
scorbutic guinea-pig‘s liver is unable to oxidize tyrosine except in the
presence of ascorbic acid. This suggests a lead in the study of the metabolic abnormality Alkaptonuria
in humans. Ascorbic acid administration will correct the alkaptonuria of the
scorbutic guinea pig. Its effect on human alkaptonuria has been inconsistent. The reason:
Inadequate use of ascorbic acid.

Biochemist Irwin Stones’ concept has practical
value

The inability of man to manufacture his own ascorbic acid, due to genetic fault, has
been called “hypoascorbemia” by Irwin Stone.[12] This is another reason for abolishing the present concept of
daily minimal requirements. The physiological requirements in man are no different from
other mammals capable of carrying out this synthesis.

Various procedures testing for the vitamin C levels and Requirements of
the body.

Various tests have been employed to determine the degree of body saturation of vitamin
C, but for the most part they have been misleading. Blood and urine samples
analyzed with 2:6 dichlorophenol indophenol will give values roughly 7 percent less than
when testing with dinitrophenol hydrazine. Gothlin advocates the capillary
fragility test
which is similar to the tourniquet test of Hess
in results. Both can be used to estimate the quantity of Vitamin C necessary to maintain capillary
integrity
. The intradermal test of
Rotter as modified by Slobody[13] is again gaining new
recruits. In principle it is the same as the lingual test
of Ringdorf and Cheraskin[14] since both are based on the
time required to decolorize dye. The lingual test is rapid and simple to perform but it
requires a syringe with a 25 gauge needle and a stop watch. Since the dye methods depend
on the reduction of the reagent by Vitamin C, any substance having a reducing potential
lower than the dye is a possible source of interference. Twenty years ago we elected to
measure, as a therapeutic gauge, the amount of Vitamin C in urine by borrowing on its
ability to reduce qualitative Benedict’s solution. A 2 plus Benedict’s reaction in a known
dextrose free urine was accepted as a standard. This test was helpful in gauging
requirements for simple stress, but not accurate enough when using needle therapy. Fifteen years ago we developed the Silver Nitrate-Urine test[15]. This test employs 10 drops of 5 percent silver nitrate and 10
drops urine which is placed in a Wasserman tube. When read in two minutes it will give a
color pattern showing white, beige, smoke gray or charcoal or various combinations of any
two depending upon the degree of saturation. We have found this color index test is all
one will need for establishing the correct amount of ascorbic acid to use
by mouth, by muscle, by vein in the handling of all types of human pathology either as the
specific drug or as an adjuvant with other antibiotics or neutralizing chemicals. In
severe pathological conditions the urine sample, taken every four hours, must show a fine
charcoal-like precipitation with a clear supernatant liquid if positive clinical results
are to be realized. Spilling in the urine is not new. Abraham and Keefer have demonstrated
that when penicillin is injected intravenously, excretions in the urine account for 60
percent of the administered dose.

Role played by ascorbic acid in intercellular reactions, neutralizing,
possibly controlling virus production.

In 1935 Stanley isolated a crystalline protein possessing the properties of tobacco
mosaic virus. It contained two substances, ribonucleic acid (RNA) and
protein. The simple structure characteristic of tobacco mosaic virus was soon found to be
a basic property of many human viruses such as coxsackie virus (which I
believe to be the cause of Multiple Sclerosis), Echoviruses
and polioviruses – they all contain only ribonucleic acid and protein.
There exist minor variations. Adenoviruses contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
and protein. Other viruses such as that causing influenza contain added
lipid and polysaccharides. Deoxyribonucleic acid is used to program the large viruses,
like mumps, ribonucleic acid is used to program the small viruses, like measles. The role
of the protein coat is to protect the parasitic but unstable nucleic acid as it rides the
“blood highway” or “lymphatic system” to gain specific cell entry.
Pure viral nucleic acid without its protein coat can be inactivated by constituents of
normal blood. There are several theories as to what happens after cell entry:

  • Once inside a given cell. the virus nucleic acid sheds its protein coat and proceeds to
    modify the host cell by either creating mutations or by directly substituting its own
    nucleic acid;
  • The infectious nucleic acid, after entering a human cell, retains its protein coat and
    starts to produce its own type protein coat[16] and viral
    nucleic acid, so that new units can either depart to enter other cells or by destruction
    of the cell, thus making the infection more severe;
  • The introduction of a foreign fragment of nucleic acid in the cell-virus interaction
    approach as postulated by Starr[17]. In the Starr theory
    there can exist cells with partial chromosome make-up and cells with multi-nuclei. Hiliary Kropowski holds that these partial cells are ‘pseudo-virons’[18] and are found in some tumor-virus infections. A key factor in
    the Starr-Kropowski thinking is that the cell maintains its biological integrity to
    support virus development despite the abnormal morphology and genetic deficiency. If these
    invaded cells could be destroyed or the invader neutralized the illness would suddenly
    terminate. Ascorbic acid has the capability of entering all cells. Under normal
    circumstances its presence is beneficial to the cell, however, when the cell has been
    invaded by a foreign substance, like virus nucleic acid, enzymatic action by ascorbic acid
    contributes to the breakdown of virus nucleic acid to adenosine deaminase which converts
    adenosine to inosine. The net result is to lead to purines which are extensively
    catabolized and not to p+urines which are utilized for further nucleic acid. Ascorbic acid
    also joins with the available virus protein, making a new macromolecule which acts as the
    repressor factor. It has been demonstrated that when combined with the repressor, the
    operator gene, virus nucleic acid, cannot react with any other substance and cannot induce
    activity in the structural gene, therefore inhibiting the multiplication of new virus
    bodies. The tensile strength of the cell membrane is exceeded by these macromolecules with
    rupture and destruction. Another hypothesis is that Vitamin C acts to create new
    “L” viruses which are impotent. Still another, that the “binding”
    alone is sufficient to destroy the virus.

Promptness of massive ascorbic acid in
avoiding fatal encephalitis related to stubborn head and chest colds.

In 1953[19] we presented a case history and films of a
patient with virus pneumonia. This patient was unconscious, with a fever
of 106.8蚌 (A. corrected) when admitted to the hospital. 140 grams ascorbic acid was
given intravenously over a period of 72 hours at which time she was awake, sitting up in
bed and taking fluids freely by mouth. The temperature was normal. Since that time we have
observed a more deadly syndrome associated with a virus causing head and chest colds. This
is one of the adenovirus striking in the area of the upper respiratory tract with
resulting fever, sore throat and eyes, and when in children can cause fatal pneumonia.
More often death is indirect by way of incipient encephalitis where the
child can be dead in 30 minutes. These are the babies and children found dead in bed and
attributed to suffocation [SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome]. It is suffocation but by way of a syndrome
we observed and reported in 1957[20] which is similar to
that found in cephalic tetanus-toxemia culminating in diaphragmatic spasm, with dyspnea
and finally asphyxia.[21] By 1958[22] we had collected sufficient information from our office and
hospital patients to catalog this deadly syndrome Into two important stages.

  • Stage 1
    • There is always a history of having had the “Flu” which lasted 48 to
      96 hours
      complicated with extreme physical or mental distress; or
    • A mild cold, similar to an allergic rhinitis, which lingered on for several
      weeks
      but did not incapacitate the individual.
  • Stage 2, which is always sudden, will present itself in at least seven forms:
    • Convulsive seizures;
    • Extreme excitability resembling delirium tremens if an adult and with dancing of the
      eyeballs if a child;
    • Severe chill;
    • Strangling in the course of eating or drinking (bulbar type);
    • Collapse;
    • Stupor;
    • Hemiplegic type.

Other findings of this dramatic second stage are:

  • Rapid pulse;
  • Temperature can be normal, moderately elevated or high;
  • Respirations twice to three times normal and in some cases will be suggestive of air
    hunger;
  • Pupils will be moderately open and in some instances (hemiplegic) one will be markedly
    dilated;
  • Urine negative;
  • The white blood count running from 6,000 to 25,000 with a high poly count in the
    differential;
  • Young patients starting the second phase with a convulsion there has been not only a
    history of normal bowel movements but also an enema given at the time of first examination
    has produced a normal stool;
  • Bladder sphincter control was abnormal in our cases who convulsed or who were in coma.

Neurological Changes

It is apparent that the second stage of this syndrome is triggered by a breakthrough at
the site of the blood-brain barrier. The time required for neurological
changes to become evident is roughly comparable to the time necessary for similar
neuropathology to be demonstrated following a severe head injury.
Cerebral edema exists in both conditions. In my practice I start massive ascorbic acid
therapy immediately. I have seen children dead in from 30 minutes to 2 hours
because their attending physician was not impressed with their illness upon hospital
admission. An autopsy on one of these patients showed bilateral pneumonitis – all
one needs to spark a deadly encephalitis. To indicate just how common
this syndrome presents itself, I relate here a newspaper account of a 15 year old girl who
had a mild, lingering cold for several weeks. She attended a dance party
one evening and except for a complaint of feeling extremely tired, she went to bed
apparently well. She was found dead in bed the following morning. An autopsy showed
bilateral pneumonia. How many times have you read such an account? This is why it is
necessary for everybody to take adequate supplemental Vitamin C to guard against such
disasters.

Literature Research

In 1960 we decided to research the literature before writing our paper. “Virus
Encephalitis As A Sequel Of The Pneumonias
.”[22]
Rosenfield in 1903 described a similar syndrome under the caption “Brain Purpura or
Hemorrhagic Encephalitis.” Comby, in 1907, was the first to call attention to the
interesting “metastic” sequela of the pneumonias. Baker
and Noran in 1945 enumerated five groups, each showing certain definite clinical
characteristics which may be of both diagnostic and prognostic significance in relation to
this virus syndrome. [23]

  • Symptoms of a nonspecific nature – headache, vomiting, irritability;
  • Delirious type;
  • Convulsive type;
  • Lethargic type;
  • Hemiplegic type.

These groups plus two additional types, namely:

  • Chill – blood invasion type;
  • Collapse,

were as we reported them, independently, in the Tri-State Medical Journal, October
1958. Their results: Some recovered, some died and still others lived as
“vegetation” mental cripples. All of our patients recovered
. Thirteen
years from the time of the Baker-Noran report to the time of our report and 13 years from
the time of our report to the present time. This makes the issue urgent. Physicians must
recognize the inherent danger of the lingering head or chest cold and
appreciate the importance of early massive Vitamin C therapy.

How does the brain become involved in encephalitis?–some speculations.

Clinical problems such as these groups present, leads one to speculate on the pathways
in which the virus gains entrance into the brain. We can summarize:

  • Through the olfactory nerves;
  • Through the portals of the stomach from material swallowed, either pulmonary or upper
    respiratory drainage;
  • Direct extension from otitis media or from mastoid cells;
  • The blood stream. Arriving in the brain the virus goes through the blood cerebrospinal
    fluid barrier and/or the blood brain barrier by one of three ways:

    • Electrical charge;
    • Chemical lysis of tissue;
    • Osmosis.

Bakay[24] reported that the permeability
of the blood-brain barrier
can be changed by introducing various toxic agents
into the blood circulation. Chambers and Zweifach[25] emphasized the importance of the intercellular cement of the
capillary wall in regulating permeability of the blood vessels of the central nervous
system. In this syndrome the toxic substance is an adenovirus. Ascorbic
acid will repair and maintain the integrity of the capillary wall.

Burns – degrees explained and some therapy
rational.

In the treatment of burns ascorbic acid, in sufficient amounts,
reflects itself as a truly miracle substance. In the early forties, when I was using
ascorbic acid, intramuscularly, in treating bacillary dysentery, shiga
type, with excellent results, Lund, Lam and many others were using, what they called,
massive doses of ascorbic acid in the treatment of burns. One or two grams each day, in
fluids, was the recognized dose. Burns are at the beginning first degree and some remain
as just an erythema. Many times the first degree burn progresses rapidly
to the second degree stage and remains as “blisters”. Still others go on to third
degree
which usually is more pronounced on the third-plus post-burn day. There is
a fourth stage which results from lack of knowledge in treatment. It
terminates with skin grafting and plastic surgery. We believe that
ascorbic acid will eliminate the fourth stage and the third stage if used as we will later
program.

Burns – continued descriptive and related therapies.

The pathologic physiology of a burn wound from the moment of the
accident is in a state of dynamic change until the wound heals or the patient dies. The primary consideration is the phenomenon
of blood sludging originally recognized by Knisely in 1945.[26,27] Initially there is intravascular agglutination of red blood
cells into distinctly visible, smooth, hard, rigid, basic masses. Lofstrom in 1959
demonstrated that the oxygen uptake by the tissues is greatly reduced
because of the sludging and therefore reduced rate of flow. Berkeley[28] in 1960 concluded that this phenomenon of sludging or
agglutination results in capillary thrombosis in the area of the burn, extending
proximally to involve the large arterioles and venules and thereby creating tissue
destruction greater than that originally produced by the burn. Anoxia
produces added tissue destruction. Lund and Levenson[28] found that after severe burns there is considerable alteration
in the metabolism of ascorbic acid as shown by a low concentration of ascorbic acid in the
plasma either with the patient fasting or after saturation tests and also low urinary
excretion of Vitamin C either with the patient fasting or after the injection of test
doses. The extent of the abnormality closely paralleled the severity of the burn. Bergman[30] reported an increase
demand for ascorbic acid in burns especially when epithelization and formation of
granulation tissue are taking place. Lam[31]
also reported in 1941 a marked decrease in the plasma ascorbic acid concentration in
patients with severe burns. Klasson[32]
although limiting the amount of ascorbic acid to a dose range of 300 mg to 2000 mg daily,
in divided doses, found that it hastened the healing of wounds by producing healthy
granulation tissue and also that it reduced local edema. He rationalized that ascorbic
acid used locally
as a 2% dressing possessed astringent properties similar to
hydrogen peroxide. He also reported that antibiotic therapy was rarely necessary.

Severe burns and related therapy.

Harlen Stone[33] suggested the use of gentamicin in
major burns to lower the sepsis caused by pseudomonas. Absorption of its exotoxin from the
infected burn wound inhibits the bacterial defense mechanism of the reticuloendothelial
system. Death can result either from the toxemia alone or from an associated septicemia.
We have found that the secret in treating burns can be summarized in five steps:

  1. The use of the “old covered wagon” type cradle when indicated, with three 25
    watt bulbs. The patient controls the heat by turning on and off the first bulb as needed
    to keep warm. No garments or dressings are allowed;
  2. The employment of a 3% ascorbic acid solution as a spray over the entire area of the
    burn. The spray can be applied with a Devilbis unit using an ordinary portable pressure
    pump. The old type “flit gun” can also be used or even a 50 c.c. syringe with a
    20 gauge needle. The 3% solution is used every 2 to 4 hours for a period of roughly five
    days;
  3. The use of vitamin A and D ointment over the area of the burn and this is now
    alternated, q4h with the 3% ascorbic acid solution;
  4. The administration of massive doses of ascorbic acid by vein and by mouth. 500 mg per
    Kg. body weight diluted to at least 18 c.c. per gram Vitamin C using 5% dextrose in water,
    saline in water or Ringers solution and for the initial injection, run in as fast as a 20
    gauge needle or catheter will carry the flow. Cut-downs are frequently necessary and the
    foot-ankle area is recommended. Vitamin C solution is repeated every 8 hours for the first
    several days, then at 12 hour intervals. Ascorbic acid, by mouth, is given to tolerance.
    Loose stools is accepted as this index. Using large doses of ascorbic acid I.V. will
    necessitate the administration of at least one gram calcium gluconate,
    daily, to replace free calcium ions removed in the breakdown chemical action as ascorbic
    acid goes to dehydroascorbic acid, then to ketogulonic acid and later to oxalic acid as
    the calcium salt;
  5. Supportive treatment; that is, whole blood and maintaining electrolyte balance.

If seen early after the burn there will be no infections and no eschar formations. This
eliminates fluid formation, since the eschar traps will not exist and there will be no
distal edema because the venous and lymphatic systems will remain open. There will be no
arterial obstruction and no nerve compression. Pseudomonas will not be a problem, since
ascorbic acid destroys the exotoxin systemically and locally. Even if the burn is seen
late when pseudomonas is a major problem the gram negative bacilli will be destroyed in a
few days leaving a clean healthy surface. I have seen eschars 2 inches
wide and 1/2 inch thick, severely infected so that stench had to be controlled with
deodorizing sprays, melt away when employing the method outlined.
Ascorbic acid also eliminates pain so that opiates or their equivalent are not
required
. In extremely extensive burns that involve back
and front of the patient, the “Hoverbed[35]
employed by the British should be considered. It uses the same principle as the hovercraft
to lift a solid object. What has been overlooked in burns is that there are many living
epithelial cells in the areas that grossly look like “raw muscle.” With the use
of ascorbic acid these cells are kept viable, will multiply and soon meet with other
proliferating units in the establishment of a new integument.

Regarding personal and environmental pollution-carbon monoxide.

We are all plagued with varying degrees of chronic carbon monoxide poisoning.
This is the price we pay for putting our “railroads” on our highways, smoking
and being too lazy to walk. Small amounts of carbon monoxide, if constantly maintained in
the alveoli, can produce serious effects. Carbon monoxide in the inspired air leads to
oxygen deficiency in the tissues causing extreme exhaustion. The affinity of carbon
monoxide for hemoglobin is roughly 300 times as great as that for oxygen.
In addition to active replacement of oxy-hemoglobin the presence of some proportion of
carboxy-hemoglobin decreases the dissociability of such oxy-hemoglobin as remains. Carbon
monoxide can be released from hemoglobin if the patient is exposed to high pressure of
oxygen, 93% along with 7% carbon dioxide. This is not always available. Ascorbic acid in
the blood is constantly losing molecules of water. Perfectly dry carbon monoxide and
oxygen cannot unite to form carbon dioxide, but carbon monoxide and water may give rise to
carbon dioxide in the complete absence of oxygen. The reactions which take place are CO +
H2O HCOOH CO2 + H2 (Wright). Here the oxygen of the
water has been used to oxidize carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide with the liberation of
hydrogen. Glutathione may facilitate this cellular oxidation by acting as
a hydrogen acceptor (Hopkins). Clinical experience suggests that if sufficient ascorbic
acid is suddenly placed into the blood stream – 12 grams to 50 grams – that through “Flash
Oxidation
” a concentration of oxygen is made high enough to pull carbon
monoxide from hemoglobin to form carbon dioxide. This rapidly formed carbon dioxide acts
with the high oxygen tension to serve the same purpose as when given by “mask,”
further enhancing the chemical action taking place. Ascorbic acid will also prevent
residuals such as paralysis, blindness, interference with sensations, muscle spasms or
twitchings which in some cases can be permanent.

Primary and lasting benefits in pregnancy.

Observations made on over 300 consecutive obstetrical cases using supplemental ascorbic
acid, by mouth, convinced me that failure to use this agent in sufficient amounts in
pregnancy borders on malpractice. The lowest amount of ascorbic acid used was 4 grams and
the highest amount 15 grams each day. (Remember the rat-no stress manufactures equivalent
“C” up to 4 grams and with stress up to 15.2 grams). Requirements were roughly 4
grams first trimester, 6 grams second trimester and 10 grams third trimester.
Approximately 20 percent required 15 grams, each day, during last trimester. Eighty
percent of this series received a booster injection of 10 grams, intravenously, on
admission to the hospital. Hemoglobin levels were much easier to maintain. Leg
cramps
were less than three percent and always was associated with “getting
out” of Vitamin C tablets. Striae gravidarum was seldom encountered
and when it was present there existed an associated problem of too much eating and too
little walking. The capacity of the skin to resist the pressure of an expanding uterus
will also vary in different individuals. Labor was shorter and less painful. There were no
postpartum hemorrhages. The perineum was found to be remarkably elastic and episiotomy was
performed electively. Healing was always by first intention and even after 15 and 20 years
following the last child the firmness of the perineum is found to be similar to that of a
primigravida in those who have continued their daily supplemental vitamin C. No patient
required catheterization. No toxic manifestations were demonstrated in this series. There
was no cardiac stress even though 22 patients of the series had rheumatic hearts. One
patient in particular was carried through two pregnancies without complications. She had
been warned by her previous obstetrician that a second pregnancy would terminate with a
maternal death. She received no ascorbic acid with her first pregnancy. This lady has been
back teaching school for the past 10 years. She still takes 10 grams of ascorbic acid
daily. Infants born under massive ascorbic acid therapy were all robust. Not a single case
required resuscitation. We experienced no feeding problems. The Fultz quadruplets were in
this series. They took milk nourishment on the second day. These babies were started on 50
mg ascorbic acid the first day and, of course, this was increased as time went on. Our
only nursery equipment was one hospital bed, an old, used single unit hot plate and an
equally old 10 quart kettle. Humidity and ascorbic acid tells this story. They are the
only quadruplets that have survived in southeastern United States. Another case of which I
am justly proud is one in which we delivered 10 children to one couple. All are healthy
and good looking. There were no miscarriages. All are living and well. They are frequently
referred to as the Vitamin C kids, in fact all of the babies from this
series were called “Vitamin C Babies” by the nursing
personnel–they were distinctly different.

How concerned should we be about oxalic acid and kidney stones? A
technical explanation.

One of the “scare” weapons used by the critics on high daily doses of
ascorbic acid is the oxalic acid-kidney stone hypothesis. Meakins[36] states that the chief
factors in the formation of renal calculi are perversions of metabolic processes,
infection and stasis in the urinary tract. There are two schools of thought on stone
formation: 1) That there is a central nucleus of colloids on which the crystalloids are
precipitated; 2) That the crystalloids are deposited from the urine in which they are
present in concentrated solution, in which salt and hydrogen ion concentrations are
important factors. In all cases stasis and a concentrated urine appear to be the chief
physiological factors. The only way that oxalic acid can be produced from ascorbic acid is
through splitting of the lactone ring. This happens above pH5. The reaction of urine when
10 grams of Vitamin C is taken daily is usually pH6. Oxalic acid precipitates out of
solution only from a neutral or alkaline solution-pH7 to pH10. Kelli
and Zilva[37] reported that “Nutrition experiments
showed that dehydroascorbic acid is protected in vivo from rapid transformation to the
antiscorbutically impotent diketogulonic acid from which oxalic acid is derived.”
Values reported in the literature for normal 24 hour urinary oxalate excretions for humans
range from 14 mg to 56 mg. Lamden et al.[38]
found in a group of volunteers that the ingestion of 9 grams ascorbic acid daily resulted
in oxalate spills as high as 68 mg for 24 hours and in the controls without extra vitamin
C the high was 64 mg for a 24 hour period.

These critics have overlooked the individual with diabetes mellitus.
The amount of oxalic acid found in the diabetic patient approximates that found in the
urine of a normal person taking 10 grams vitamin C each day. With the diabetic we find a
paradox. Give this individual 10 grams ascorbic acid daily, by mouth, and the urinary
oxalate excretion remains relatively unchanged. Diabetics are known for their diuresis.
The individual who takes 10 or more grams of vitamin C each day will find that this
organic compound is an excellent diuretic. No urinary stasis; no urine concentration.

The ascorbic acid kidney stone story is a myth. Methylene blue will
dissolve calcium oxalate stones giving 65 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day. (Dr. M. J. Vernon
Smith: Med. World News, Dec. 4, 1970)

Why death from insect and snake bites?

It is estimated that 6500 deaths occur each year in the United States from snake bite.
Many more from various flying insects, spiders, certain plants and some caterpillars.These
are needless deaths. Several factors are
at work in these pathologies:

  • The tox-albumin of the snake bite, like the copperhead or rattler;
  • Formic acid plus a toxin with a protein cover, called proteotoxin by Arthus,[39] such as found in bees and wasps;
  • Neurotoxin from the Black Widow, the Fiddle Spider and snakes like the Cobra and Coral;
  • Production of histamine, especially in the more severe stings and bites.

Wells[40] in 1925 called the poison of certain spiders
and snakes zootoxins and of poisonous plants, phytotoxins.
Ford[41] in 1911 reported three
classes of toxins in plants and fungi:

  • Nerve poisons-muscarine;
  • Those causing structural changes in the viscera with resulting fatty degeneration;
  • Gastrointestinal irritants.

Ascorbic acid to the rescue.

It is a demonstrated principle that the production of histamine and
other end products from deaminized cell proteins released by injury to cells are a cause
of shock. The clinical value of ascorbic acid in
combating shock is explained when we realize that the deaminizing enzymes from the damaged
cells are inhibited by vitamin C.[42] It
has been shown by Chambers and Pollock[43] that mechanical
damage to a cell results in pH changes which reverse the cell enzymes from constructive to
destructive activity. The pH changes spread to other cells. This destructive activity
releases histamine a major shock producing substance. The presence of vitamin C inhibits
this enzyme transition into the destructive phase. Clark and
Rossiter[44] reported that conditions of shock and stress
cause depletion of the ascorbic acid content of the plasma. As with the virus bodies,
ascorbic acid also joins with the protein factor of these toxins effecting quick
destruction.

The answer to these emergencies is simple. Large amounts of ascorbic acid 350 mg to 700
mg per Kg. body weight given intravenously. In small patients, where veins are at a
premium, ascorbic acid can easily be given intramuscularly in amounts up to two grams at
one site. Several areas can be used with each dose given. Ice held to the gluteal muscles
until red, almost eliminates the pain. We always reapply the ice for a few minutes after
the injection. Ascorbic acid is also given, by mouth, as follow-up treatment. Every
emergency room should be stocked with vitamin C ampoules of sufficient strength so that
time will never be counted-as a factor in saving a life. The 4 gram, 20 c.c, ampoule and
10 gram 50 c.c. ampoule must be made available to the physician.

A case history-success due to promptness with a twelve gram injection.

As an example of the lethal effect of certain stings and bites, I briefly relate a case
history. An adult male came to my office complaining of severe chest pain and the
inability to take a deep breath. Stated that he had been “stung” or
“bitten” 10 minutes earlier. Thinking that it was a Black Widow and not
bothering to look for fang marks, due to the gravity of the situation, I gave one gram
calcium gluconate intravenously. This gave no relief. He begged for help saying he
was dying
. He was becoming cyanotic [blue or livid skin from lack of oxygen].
Twelve grams of vitamin C was quickly pulled into a 50 c.c. syringe and with a 20 gauge
needle was given intravenously as fast as the plunger could be pushed. Even before the
injection was completed, he exclaimed, “Thank God”. The poison had been
neutralized that rapidly. He was sent home to locate the “culprit”. He soon
returned with an object that looked like a mouse. It was 1 1/2 inches long with long brown
hair. There was a dark ridge down the entire back. It had seven pairs of propelling units
and a tail much like a mouse. The following day I took “The Thing” to Duke
University where it was identified as the Puss Caterpillar. This unusual
caterpillar left 44 red raised marks on the back of its victim. Except for vitamin C this
individual would have died from shock and asphyxiation.

Some concern answered regarding high dosage of ascorbic acid.

Merton Lamden, a biochemist, writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 11,
1971, expresses grave doubts about the safety of large doses of ascorbic acid taken by
mouth. He gives a report by Paterson[45]
on the diabetogenic effect of dehydroascorbic acid on rats. Paterson in 1950 employed only
the Ketone formula of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, which he administered,
undiluted, intravenously, in extraordinary amounts. His results were based on giving rats,
weighing 100 grams to 120 grams, dehydroascorbic acid in doses from 20 to 50 mg. This
transposed to a man weighing 70 kilograms would represent a dose of 3,500 grams-roughly
5,000 grams ascorbic acid. Obviously the work has no relationship with the ingestion of
ascorbic acid by humans. I have taken from 10 to 20 grams of ascorbic acid daily since my
last visit to this college – 18 years ago. I do not have diabetes mellitus and if I might
digress a moment, neither have I had a kidney stone.

Diabetes mellitus response to 10 grams ascorbic acid by mouth.

Over the past 17 years we have studied the effect of 10 grams by mouth, in patients
with diabetes mellitus. We found that every diabetic not taking supplemental vitamin C
could be classified as having sub-clinical scurvy. For this reason they
find it difficult to heal wounds. The diabetic patient will use the
supplemental vitamin C for better utilization of his insulin. It will assist the liver in
the metabolism of carbohydrates and to reinstate his body to heal wounds like normal
individuals. We found that 60% of all diabetics could be controlled with diet and 10 grams
ascorbic acid daily. The other 40% will need much less needle insulin and
less oral medication. Contrary to what Medical News Letter, (Vol. 12 # 26, Dec. 25 1970)
carried to the physicians the Tes-Tape is accurate in testing urine samples.

Observations following post-surgery cases on blood plasma levels of
ascorbic acid. Deduction is evident of the need for substantial amounts of ascorbic acid
prior to surgery.

In 1960 and again in 1966, in papers delivered before the Tri-State Medical Society, I
called attention to the “scurvy” levels of ascorbic acid found
in postoperative patients. Plasma levels recorded before starting
anesthesia and after cessation of such inhalants and completion of surgery remained
unchanged. This has lead many to believe that surgery created little or no demand for
supplemental “C”. We found, however, that samples of blood taken six hours after
surgery showed drops of approximately 1/4 the starting amount and at 12 hours the levels
were down to one-half. Samples taken 24 hours later, without added ascorbic acid to
fluids, showed levels 3/4 lower than the original samples. Baylor
University research team reported similar findings in 1965. Bartlett, Jones[48] and others reported that in spite of low levels of plasma
ascorbic acid at time of surgery, normal wound healing may be produced by adequate vitamin
C therapy during the post-operative period. Lanman and Ingalls[47] showed that the tensile strength of healing wounds is lowered
in the presence of “scurvy plasma levels”. Schumacher[48] reported that the preoperative use of as little as 500 mg of
vitamin C given orally “was remarkably successful in preventing shock and
weakness” following dental extractions. Many other investigators have shown in both
laboratory and clinical studies, that optimal primary wound healing is dependent to a
large extent upon the vitamin C content of the tissues.

In 1949, it was my privilege to assist at an abdominal exploratory laparotomy. A mass
of small viscera was found “glued together”. The area was so friable that every
attempt at separation produced a torn intestine. After repairing some 20 tears the surgeon
closed the cavity as a hopeless situation. Two grams ascorbic acid was
given by syringe every two hours for 48 hours and then 4 times each day. In 36 hours the
patient was walking the halls and in seven days was discharged with normal elimination and
no pain. She has outlived her surgeon by many years. We recommend that all patients take
10 grams ascorbic acid each day. Where this is not done and the surgery is elective, then
10 grams by mouth should be given for several weeks prior to surgery. At least 30 grams
should be given, daily, in solutions, post-operatively, until oral medication is allowed
and tolerated.

Mononucleosis aided by ascorbic acid.

After studying hundreds of college students, Yale researchers have evidence that
strengthens the link between mononucleosis and Epstein-Barr virus, a
herpes-like agent also associated with Burkitt lymphoma.[49] Large doses of intravenous “C” has a striking
influence on the course of mononucleosis. In one patient who was given
the last rites of her church, the girls mother took things into her own hands when the
attending physician refused to give ascorbic acid. In each bottle of intravenous fluids
she would quickly “tap in” 20 to 30 grams vitamin C. The patient made an
uneventful recovery. Her mother has her B.S. in Nursing and has been a long time advocate
of massive “C” therapy.

Could ascorbic acid have anti-cancer features?

Schlegel[50] from Tulane University has been using 1.5
grams ascorbic acid daily to prevent recurrences of cancer of the bladder.
He and biochemist Pipkin have been able to demonstrate that in the presence of ascorbic
acid, carcinogenic metabolites will not develop in the urine. They suggest that
spontaneous tumor formation is the result of faulty tryptophan metabolism
while urine is retained in the bladder. Schlegel termed ascorbic acid “An
Anticancer Vitamin
“. Along this line Glick and
Hosoda[51] reported on work by Von Numers and Pettersson
that the depletion of mast cells from guinea pigs skin was due to ascorbic acid
deficiency. The possibilities indicated are that vitamin C is necessary either directly or
indirectly for formation of mast cells, or for their maintenance once formed or both.
Ascorbic acid will control myelocytic leukemia provided 25 to 30 grams are taken orally
each day.

One can only speculate on what massive therapy would do in all forms of cancer. Many
pathologic conditions are cured by giving 5 million to 100,000 million units of penicillin
as an intravenous drip over a period of 4 to 6 weeks. How long must we wait for someone to
start continuous ascorbic acid drip for 2 to 3 months, giving 100 to 300 grams each day,
for various malignant conditions?

Barbiturate patients in shock normalized with
ascorbic acid.

Clemmesen[52] states that the important principles in
management of barbiturate poisoning are anti-shock therapy, continuous oxygen and patent
airways. Hadden et al.[53]
suggest six measures as supportive treatment. An intensive care unit would be necessary to
carry out these functions. All one really need do is give adequate ascorbic acid therapy.
One patient who had taken 2640 mg Lotusate (talbutal) was seen in the
emergency room with a blood pressure of 60/0. Twelve grams vitamin C was given
intravenously with a 50 c.c. syringe and then the needle attached to a bottle of 5D water
containing 50 grams ascorbic acid. Within 10 minutes the blood pressure was 100/60
demonstrating the effect of vitamin C on shock. A second bottle of 250 c.c. 5D water
containing one gram emivan was started in the other arm. The patient was awake in 3 hours,
taking juice with “C” added. She received 125 grams ascorbic acid by vein in 12
hours. Ascorbic acid not only assists with hepatic metabolism but also as a major diuretic
flushes these compounds out by way of the kidneys. Nasal oxygen running 6 liters per
minute was also employed. Another patient who had masked 2400 mg seconal with paraldehyde
was awake after 42 grams of ascorbic acid had been given by vein as fast as a 20 gauge
needle could carry the flow. She received 75 grams vitamin C by vein and 30 grams by mouth
in a 24 hour period.

Cholesterol not a problem, when daily intake
of ascorbic acid is high.

Mention should be made of the role[54] played by
vitamin C as a regulator of the rate at which cholesterol is formed in the body;
deficiency of the vitamin speeding the formation of this substance. In experimental work,
guinea pigs fed a diet free of ascorbic acid showed a 600 percent acceleration in
cholesterol formation in the adrenal glands. Ten grams or more each day and then eat all
the eggs you want. That is my schedule and my cholesterol remains normal, Russia has
published many articles demonstrating these same benefits.

Lockjaw relieved.

Ascorbic acid has no equal as a adjuvant with other drugs in many conditions. With Tolserol
it is curative in the treatment of Lockjaw. Both drugs must be used in proper amounts. In
our case 1000 mg Tolserol given intravenously to a boy weighing 20 Kg. was the optimal
amount to use. In 48 hours he was given 90 grams ascorbic acid
and 3000 mg Tolserol, all intravenously.[55] Jungeblut[56] reported that vitamin
C, when added to tetanus toxin “in vitro”, brings about inactivation of the
toxin.

Two cases of Trichinosis was treated and cured using vitamin C: and
Para-Aminobenzoic acid.[57] Although the temperature curve
was returned to normal in 36 hours it was found that nine days of treatment was necessary
for permanent cures.

Infectious hepatitis relieved.

Viral hepatitis needs brief mentioning. There are two types: 1) Infectious hepatitis;
2) Needle hepatitis. Physical activity has always been considered
to increase the severity and prolong the course of the disease.[58]
In Vietnam, Freebern and Repsher showed that pick-and-shovel
details had no effects on the 199 controls as against 199 kept at bed rest.[59] One thing is certain. Given massive intravenous ascorbic acid
therapy and patients are well and back to work in from 3 to 7 days. In these cases the
vitamin is also employed by mouth as follow-up therapy. Dr. Bauer at the University
Clinic, Basel, Switzerland, reported that just 10 grams daily, intravenously, proved the
best treatment available.

Ascorbic acid therapy applied to various
maladies.

We could continue indefinitely extolling the merits of ascorbic acid.

  • Boyd and Campbell[60] reported excellent results in the
    healing of corneal ulcers even though their massive doses was 1.5 grams
    daily. In one case of a corneal burn from the phosphorus off an old time match, the pain
    was relieved immediately with the intravenous injection of 12 grams vitamin C with a 50
    c.c syringe. One gram was prescribed each hour for 50 grams. The cornea was normal in less
    than 24 hours.
  • One single injection of ascorbic acid calculated at 500 mg per Kg. body weight will
    reverse heat stroke.
  • One to three injections of the vitamin in a dose range of 400 mg Kg. body weight will
    effect a dramatic cure in Virus Pancarditis.
  • One gram taken every one to two hours during exposure will prevent sunburn.
  • Intravenous injections will quickly relieve the pain and erythema, even
    the second degree burns when precautions are not taken.
  • One to three injections of 400 mg per Kg. given every eight hours will “dry
    up” chicken-pox in 24 hours.
  • If nausea is present it will stop the nausea.

These injections are usually given with a syringe in a dilution of one gram to 5 c.c
fluid. This concentration will produce immediate thirst. This is prevented by having the
patient drink a glass of juice just before giving the injection.

  • 40 grams ascorbic acid by vein and 1000 mg to 2000 mg vitamin B1 intramuscularly will
    neutralize the person intoxicated by alcohol and will save the
    life
    if one drinks after using Antibuse.
  • 5 per cent ointment using a water soluble base will cure acute fever blisters
    if applied 10 or more times a day and we have removed several small basal cell epithelioma
    has with a 30 percent ointment.
  • Dr. Virno[61] at the eye clinic, University of Rome,
    Italy, reported very promising results in glaucoma with a dose schedule
    of 100 mg per Kg. body weight taken after meals and bed hour. He also reported that these
    large doses have proved to be safe.
  • In arthritis at least 10 grams daily and those taking 15 to 25 grams
    daily will experience commensurate benefit. Supportive treatment must also be given.
    Repair of collagenous tissue is dependent of adequate ascorbic acid.
  • Complications of smallpox vaccination are usually handled by adequate
    oral ascorbic acid. Several times we found it necessary to give the “C”
    intravenously along with Adenosine. Twenty percent ichthammol used locally with vaccinia
    necrosum is good psychology.
  • In herpes zoster two grams vitamin C intramuscularly and 50 mg
    Adenosine 5-Monophosphoric acid, aqueous solution, also intramuscularly every 12 hours.
    Compound tincture benzoin locally is helpful.
  • In massive “shingles” ascorbic acid should also be given by
    vein. Always as much by mouth as can be tolerated. Heavy metal intoxication is also
    resolved with adequate vitamin C therapy.

General all around benefits of one to ten grams ascorbic acid per day.

It has been suggested that ascorbic acid metabolism may be an index of total metabolism
and thus serve as a general diagnostic guide. Adults taking at least 10 grams of ascorbic
acid daily, and children under ten at least one gram for each year of life will find that
the brain will be clearer, the mind more active, the body less wearied
and the memory more retentive.

Summary

The types of pathology treated with massive doses of ascorbic acid run the entire gamut
of medical knowledge. Body needs are so great that so called minimal daily requirements
must be ignored. A genetic error is the probable cause for our inability to manufacture
ascorbic acid, thus requiring exogenous sources of vitamin C. Simple dye or chemical test
are available for checking individual needs. Ascorbic acid destroys virus bodies by taking
up the protein coat so that new units cannot be made, by contributing to the break-down of
virus nucleic acid with the result of controlled purine metabolism. Its action in dealing
with virus pneumonia and virus encephalitis has been outlined. The clinical use of vitamin
C in pneumonia has a very sound foundation. In experimental tests
monkeys kept on a vitamin C free diet all died of pneumonia while those with adequate
diets remained healthy.[62] Many investigators have shown an increased need for ascorbic acid in
this condition.[63,64] Brody in 1953
after studying vitamin C and colds in college students advised that ascorbic acid be given
early and often in sufficient amounts. Regnier[65] reporting in review of Allergy found that the larger the dose
of ascorbic acid the better were the results. Our findings resulted in a schedule of one
gram each hour for 48 hours and then 10 grams each day by mouth. Those under ten at least
one gram for each year of life.

Virus Encephalitis.

Virus encephalitis is a deadly syndrome and must be treated heroically with intravenous
and/or intramuscular injections of ascorbic acid. We recommend a dose schedule of from 350
mg to 700 mg per Kg. body weight diluted to at least 18 c.c. of 5D water to each gram of
“C”. In small children, 2 and 3 grams can be given intramuscularly, every 2
hours. An ice cap to the buttock will prevent soreness and induration. Ascorbic acid in
amounts under 400 mg per Kg. body weight can be administered intravenously with a syringe
in dilutions of 5 c.c. to each one gram provided the ampoule is buffered with sodium
bicarbonate with sodium Bisulfite added. As much as 12 grams can be given in this manner
with a 50 c.c. syringe. Larger amounts must be diluted with “bottle” dextrose or
“saline” solutions and run in by needle drip. This is true because amounts like
20 to 25 grams which can be given with a 100 c.c. syringe can suddenly dehydrate the
cerebral cortex so as to produce convulsive movements of the legs. This represents a
peculiar syndrome, symptomatic epilepsy, in which the patient is mentally clear and
experiences no discomfiture except that the lower extremities are in mild convulsion. This
epileptiform type seizure will continue for 20 plus minutes and then abruptly stop. Mild
pressure on the knees will stop the seizure so long as pressure is maintained. If still
within the time limit of the seizure the spasm will reappear by simply withdrawing the
hand pressure. I have seen this in two patients receiving 26 grams intravenously with a
100 c.c. syringe on the second injection. One patient had poliomyelitis, the other
malignant measles. Both were adults. I have duplicated this on myself to prove no after
effects. Intramuscular injections are always 500 mg to 1 c.c. solution. With continuous
intravenous injections of large amounts of ascorbic acid, at least one gram of calcium
gluconate must be added to the fluids each day. This is done because we have found that
massive doses of ascorbic acid pulls free calcium ions from the vicinity of the platelets
or from the calcium-prothrombin complex as the lactone ring of dehydroascorbic acid is
opened. The first sign of calcium ion loss is “nose bleeding”. This differs from
the nosebleed found, at times, in cases of chicken pox or measles. Here it represents
frank scurvy from vitamin C deficiency. The pathology being
“Capillary fragility”.[66]

Burns.

A new treatment for burns has been outlined, which if followed will eliminate skin
grafting and plastic surgery. It is probably too simple to gain early acceptance. The
literature has been suggesting the value of ascorbic acid in burns for many years. Proper
local application and the amount for systemic usage has been misleading. One only need see
one case properly treated with ascorbic acid to appreciate its importance. If ascorbic
acid can destroy the exotoxin of tetanus, as Jungeblut demonstrated, it can also destroy
the exotoxin of Pseudomonas. Ascorbic acid plays an important role in maintaining fluid
balance in the body. Ruskin pointed out that the vitamin activates an enzyme arginase,
which breaks down the amino acid arginine, resulting in production of urea which is one
key to tissue fluid balance.

Pregnancy.

The simple stress of pregnancy demands supplemental vitamin C. This amount will vary
with the individual. The silver nitrate-urine text will simplify these findings. vitamin C
seems especially concerned with mesenchymal tissue. When one considers the demands of the
fetus and infant, especially premature babies, it is obvious that high vitamin C intakes
are required during pregnancy because this “parasite” will drain available
“C” from the mother. Greenblatt[67]
reports excellent results following the oral administration of vitamin C in the therapy of
habitual abortion. In my own practice I was able to take women who had had as many as five
abortions without a successful pregnancy and carry them through two and three uneventful
pregnancies with the use of supplemental vitamin C. The German literature is
“stacked” with articles recommending high doses of vitamin C during gestation
because they believe that this substance is of great benefit in influencing the health of
the mother and in preventing infections. The vital contribution of ascorbic acid to the
body tissues can be summed up in the formation and maintenance of normal intercellular
material, especially in the connective tissue, bones, teeth, and blood vessels. Genetic
errors might be prevented if prospective mothers were advised to take 10 or more grams of
ascorbic acid daily. It is significant that we found in the simple stress of pregnancy, a
normal physiological process, that equivalent requirements paralleled those found in the
rat when under stress. Experiments by King et al.[68] have shown that the need for supplemental vitamin C begins
with the embryo.

Kidney Stones.

The “scare” factor of large doses of ascorbic vs. kidney stones has been laid
to rest. Since the urine is usually pH6, one can see that the opening of the lactone ring
is a slow process. This reaction takes place in tissues and is probably regulated by the
amount of glutathione present. The important considerations are that one must have a
concentrated urine, that stasis must be a factor and that the urine must be alkaline for
any appreciable amounts of the crystalloids to precipitate out. This will never occur with
massive ascorbic acid therapy. Furthermore, it has been shown that the controls in a given
experiment had almost as much oxalic acid spill as did those volunteers taking 9 grams of
ascorbic acid daily.

Insect – Snake Bites.

The quickness of results in snake bite, spider bite, hornet stings and caterpillar
reactions demonstrates the usefulness in saving lives. It is best to give the vitamin
intravenously with a syringe since bottle preparations are too time consuming. One
precaution must be given. There exist a 2 gram ascorbic acid ampoule, and ironically it is
the only one to my knowledge approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which might
“kill” if used undiluted in a syringe. This lethal factor is due to the
preservatives added. Each ampoule contains 2 grams sodium ascorbate. Vehicle contains:
Monothioglycerol 0.14%; Sodium Formaldehyde Sulfoxylate 0.05%; Methyl Paraben 0.13%;
Propyl Paraben 0.015%. Neutralized to pH6 with Sodium Bicarbonate; Water for injection
q.s. This ampoule can be used intravenously ONLY when diluted to at least 25 c.c. to one
gram. One sometimes will be confronted with extraordinary allergic and shock symptoms
along with acute respiratory obstruction. In these situation one must employ Benadryl
intravenously and/or intramuscularly and an adrenocortical hormone such as Decadron. These
can be given by a nurse while the ascorbic acid is being prepared. In their absence a
second “syringe” dose of ascorbic acid will suffice. Fluids by mouth should be
given to prevent or correct thirst which all patients seem to experience.

Diabetes

Large doses of ascorbic acid do not cause diabetes mellitus in humans as has been
suggested. On the contrary 10 grams daily, by mouth, has proved to be beneficial. The fact
that 10 grams will allow them to heal wounds like normal individuals will save many legs
in. the future. Lamden, a biochemist, instigated these fears by misinterpretation of the
results reported by Patterson using the Ketone formula intravenously in rats.

In Surgery.

In surgery the use of ascorbic acid resolves itself into a “must” situation.
The 24 hour frank scurvy levels should be sufficient evidence to encourage all surgeons to
use vitamin C freely in their fluids. Proper employment of vitamin C by the surgeons will
all but eliminate the post-surgery deaths.

In Malignancy.

The part very large doses of ascorbic acid given intravenously over a prolonged period
offers a medical challenge. From cabbage and tomatoes grown in the carbon-14 chambers
radioactive ascorbic acid can be extracted, which can be used in tracer studies. At least
one research team has demonstrated that in cancer all available “C” is mobilized
at the site of the malignancy. Lauber and Rosenfeld reported that “C” is
mobilized from the tissues of the body and selectively concentrated in traumatized areas.
In one hopeless case we administered 17 grams daily for 92 consecutive days without
changing the blood or urine levels from that associated with scurvy. This is the reason we
believe a dose range of 100 grams to 300 grams daily by continuous intravenous drip for a
period of several months might prove surprisingly profitable. Blood chemistry should be
followed daily with such an investigation. Schlegel found that even a dose of 1.5 grams a
day, by mouth, would prevent bladder cancer.

Barbiturate Poisoning.

Our findings in no less than 15 cases of barbiturate poisoning suggested that no death
should occur from this error in judgment. We also observed the dramatic effect of 12 grams
intravenously on blood pressure associated with shock. The shock seen in heat stroke had
been corrected by the time the injection was completed. The dose range used was 500 mg per
Kg body weight.

Tetanus – Trichinosis

The use of ascorbic acid with Tolserol in the treatment of Tetanus should be accepted
as universal treatment. Here again the dose must be proper. Our case as reported will
serve as a guide in making these calculations. Ascorbic acid along with Para-Aminobenzoic
acid is curative in Trichinosis. Both drugs are administered by mouth. It is estimated
that at least 5 million cases of chronic Trichinosis exists in the United States. Just
nine days of treatment would return these individuals to normal. In our cases 10 grams
ascorbic acid was given daily and Para-Aminobenzoic acid was employed in high range. Four
to six grams to start then three grams every 2 hours for eight times. For the remainder of
the nine day schedule it was given 3 grams every two hours during the day and every three
hours during the night.

Viral Hepatitis.

Ascorbic acid is the drug of choice in viral hepatitis. The dose used ranges from 400
mg to 600 mg per Kg body weight, depending on the severity of the disease. It should be
given every 8 to 12 hours. Ten grams ascorbic acid daily in divided doses is also given by
mouth. Those under 10 years the usual schedule of at least one gram for each year of life.

Multiple Uses.

We have reviewed many other pathological conditions in which ascorbic acid plays an
important part in recovery. To these might be added Cardiovascular Diseases,
Hypermenorrhea, Peptic and Duodenal Ulcers, Post-operative and Radiation Sickness,
Rheumatic Fever, Scarlet Fever, Poliomyelitis, Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis, Tularemia,
Whooping Cough and Tuberculosis. In one case of scarlet fever in which Penicillin and the
Sulfa drugs were showing no improvement, fifty grams ascorbic acid given intravenously
resulted in a dramatic drop in the fever curve to normal. Here the action of ascorbic acid
was not only direct but also as a synergist. A similar situation was observed in a case of
lobar pneumonia. In another case of purperal sepsis following a criminal abortion the
initial dose of ascorbic acid was 1200 mg per Kg body weight and two subsequent injections
were at the 600 mg level. Along with Penicillin and Sulfadiazine an admission temperature
of 105.4蚌. was normal in nine hours. The patient made an uneventful recovery. In one spectacular case of Black Widow[69]
spider bite in a 3 1/2 year old child, in coma, one gram calcium gluconate and 4 grams of
ascorbic acid was administered intravenously when first seen in the office. Four grams
ascorbic acid was then given every six hours using a 20 c.c. syringe. She was awake and
well in 24 hours. Physical examination showed a comatose child with a rigid abdomen. The
area about the umbilicus was red and indurated, suggesting a strangulated hernia. With a 4
power lens, fang marks were in evidence. Thirty hours after starting the vitamin C therapy
the child expelled a large amount of dark clotted blood. There was no other residual. A
review of the literature confirmed that this individual has been the only one to survive
with such findings; the others were reported at autopsy. Ten grams vitamin C and 200 mg to
400 mg vitamin B-6, by mouth, daily will “shield” one from mosquito bites.
Twenty percent will also require 100 mg vitamin B-6 intramuscularly each week.

General Nutrition.

Vitamin C plays a very important role in general nutrition. Deficiency of this
substance in sufficient amounts can be a factor in loss of appetite, loss of weight or
failure to grow, muscular weakness, anemia and various skin lesions. The relationship
between vitamin C and the health of the gums and teeth has long been recognized. Laboratory studies on gum-teeth connective tissue have reaffirmed
this relationship.[70] Our son who will be 19 in July has
never developed a tooth cavity. Since age 10 he has received at least 10 grams ascorbic
acid, daily, by mouth. Before age 10 the amount given was on a sliding scale.[71]

Intravenous Application.

Ascorbic acid must be given by needle to bring about quick reversal of various
“insults” to the human body. We have found that doses must range from 350 mg to
1200 mg per Kg body weight. Under 400 mg per Kg of body weight the injection can be made
with a syringe provided the vitamin is buffered with sodium bicarbonate with Sodium
Bisulfite added. Above 400 mg doses per Kg body weight, and a particular ampoule described
in this summary, the vitamin must be diluted to at least 18 c.c. of 5 per cent dextrose in
water, saline in water or Ringer’s solution. Many times Adenosine 5-Monophosphate, 25 mg
in children and 50 to 100 mg in adults, given intramuscularly, is necessary to achieve
results. The aqueous solution is more effective for quick results, although Adenosine in
Gel can be employed. In debilitated individuals or when the pathology is serious,
Desoxycorticosterone Acetate (DCA), aqueous solution, must also be added to the schedule.
Usually 2.5 mg for children and 5 mg for adults is the daily intramuscular dose required.
Sudden swelling of the feet indicates abnormal sensitivity and the drug must be
discontinued.

It must be remembered when using ascorbic acid that experiments on man are the only
experiments which can give positive evidence of therapeutic action in man. Likewise, the
use of ascorbic acid in human pathology must follow the Law of Mass Action: “In
reversible reactions, the extent of chemical change is proportional to the active masses
of the interacting substance.”

FRED R. KLENNER, M.D.

Reidsville, N.C.

Bibliography

1 Correspondence with colleague from Puerto Rico. ref

2 Jennings & Avinoff: Wild Flowers of Western Penna. & Upper Ohio Basin, University of Pittsburgh Press, Vol. 2, Plate 156. ref

3 Food and Life: P. 236, 1939 Yearbook, U.S. Dept. Agriculture, U.S. Printing Office, Washington, D.C. ref

4 Klenner, F. R.;: Correspondence with Dr. Bauer, University of Switzerland. ref

5 J. J. Burns, et al.: J. Biol. Chem. 207: 679, 1954. ref

6 Salomon, L. L, et al.: N.Y. Acad. Science 93: 115, 1961. ref

7 Conney, A. H., et al.: N.Y. Acad. Science 92: 115, 1961. ref

8 Grollman, A. P. & Lehninger, A. L.: Arch. Biochem., 69:458, 1957. ref

9 Chattejee, I. B., Kar, N. C., Guha, B. C.: N.Y. Acad. Science 92:36, 1961. ref

10 Isherwood, F. A. & Mapson, L. W.: N.Y. Acad. Science 92:6, 1961. ref

11 Burns, J. J. Am. J. Med. 26: 740, 1959 ref

12 Stone, I.: Brief Proposal Per. Biology & Medicine, Autumn 1966. ref

13 Slobody, L. B.: J. Lab & Clinical Med. 29 #5, 464-472, 1944. ref

14 Ringsdore, W. M., Cheraskin, E. Sec., Oral Med., U. of Ala. Med. Center, Birmingham, Ala. ref

15 Klenner, F. R.: Tri-State Med. J., Feb. 1956. ref

16 Larson, C.: Ordnance, PP. 359-360, Jan.-Feb. 1967. ref

17 Starr, T. J.: Hospital Practice, p. 52, November 1968. ref

18 Kropowski, H.: Med. World News, p. 24, June 19, 1970. ref

19 Klenner, F. R.: J. Applied Nutrition, 1953. ref

20 Klenner, F. R.: Tri-State Med. Journal, June 1957. ref

21 Klenner, F. R.: Tri-State Med. J., Oct. 1958. ref

22 Klenner, F. R.: Tri-State Med. J., Feb. 1960. ref

23 Baker, A. B. & Noran, H. H.: Archives Int. Med. Vol. 76, 146-153, 1945. ref

24 Bakay, L: The Blood-Brain Barrier, C. Thomas, 1956. ref

25 Chambers, R. et al: Physiol. Rev., Vol. 27, 436-463, 1947. ref

26 Knisely, M. H. et al: Archives Surgery, 51-220, 1945. ref

27 Knisely, M. H. Science 106: 431, 1947. ref

28 Berkeley, W. T., Jr.: Southern Med. J., Vol. 58, pp. 1182-1184.
29 Lund & Levenson: Arch. Surg., Vol. 55: 557, 1947. ref, ref

30 Bergman, H. C. et al: Am. Heart J., Vol. 29, 506-512, 1945. ref

31 Lam, C. R.: Col. Rev. Surg. Gyn. & Obst., Vol. 72, 390-400. 1941. ref

32 Klasson,D. H.: N.Y. J. Med., 51, 2388-2392, Oct. 1951. ref

33 Stone, H. H.: Med. J., Aug. 1: 6-10, 1970. ref

34 Borsook, H. et al: J. Biol. Chem, 117:237, 1937.

35 Hoverbed: Med. World News, Oct. 13, 1967; ref

36 Meakins, J. C.: The Practice of Med., C. V. Mosby, 1938. ref

37 Kelli & Zilva; J. Biochemistry, 29: 1028. 1935. ref

38 Lambden, M. P. et al: Proc. Sec. Exp. Biol. Med., 85: 190-192,1954. ref

39 Arthus: J. Pharm. Chemi., 20: 41, 1919. ref

40 Wells, H. C.: Chem. Pathology, Saunders, 3rd Ed., 1925. ref

41 Ford: J. Pharmacy, 2, 285; 1911. ref

42 Editorial: J.A.M.A. (117) 11: 937-938, 1941. ref

43 Chambers, R., & Pollock, H.: J. Gen. Physiology, 10: 739, 1927. ref

44 Clark & Rassiter: Q. J. Exp. Physiology, V32, 279, 1944. ref

45 Patterson, J. W.: J. Biological Chemistry, 81-88, 1950. ref

46 Bartlett, M. K., et al.: New Eng. J. of Med., Vol. 226, 474, 1942. ref

47 Lanman, T. H., Ingalls, T. H.: Am. Surgery, Vol. 105, 616, 1937. ref

48 Schumacher: Ohio State Med. J., 42: 1248, 1946. ref

49 Mono-Epstein-Barr virus-Burkitt Lymphoma: Med. World News, Dec. 13, 1968. ref

50 Schlegal, G. E., et al.: Trans. Am. Ass. Genito Urinary Surgery, Vol. 61, 1989, ref

51 Click and Hosoda: Proc. Sec. Exp. Biology and Med., 119, 1965. ref

52 Clemmesen, C.: Bisperbjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Mod. Med., 123-124, July, 1954. ref

53 Hadden, J., et al.: J. Am. Med. Assoc., 209: 893-900, 1989. ref

54 Becker, R. R., et al.: J. Am. Chem. Sec. 75: 2020, 1953. ref

55 Klenner, F. R.: Tri-State Med. J., July, 1954. ref

56 Jungeblut, C. U.: J. Immunology, Vol. 33 #3, Sept. 1939 ref

57 Klenner, F. R.: Tri-State Med. J., April 1954. ref

58 Capps, R. B.: Modern Med., Jan. 11, 1971. ref

59 Freeben, R. K., Repsher, L. R.: Mod. World News, Jan. 23, 1970. ref

60 Boyd,T. A. Campbell, F. W.: B. Med. J., 2: 1145, Nov. 1950. ref

61 Virno, M.: Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Monthly, Vol. 46, p. 1502. ref

62 Sabin: J. Exp. Med., 89: 507-515, 1939. ref

63 Wright: Ann. Int. Med., 12, 4: 518-528, Oct. 1938. ref

64 Brody, H. D.: J. Am. Diet. Assoc., 29: 588, 1953. ref

65 Regnier, E.: Review of Allergy, 22: 948, Oct. 1968. ref

66 Pollock, H. & Halpen: Washington Nat. Research Council Publication, 234, 1942. ref

67 Greenblatt, R. B.: Obstet. & Gynec., 2: 530, 1953. ref

68 King, C. C., et al.: New York Times, Nov. 2, 1952. ref

69 Klenner, F. R.: Tri-State Med. T., Dec. 1957 ref

70 Baume, L. J.: Science News Letter, 64: 103, 1953. ref

71 Klenner, F. R.: Tri-State Med. J. Nov. 1955. ref

Appendix

Case History: Pesticide Poisoning

Three boys ranging in years from age seven to age 12 were walking along a North
Carolina Highway. They were caught in the “spray” of a dusting airplane. The
youngest boy had been covered by the other two and so received little exposure. He was
seen in the emergency room of the local hospital and sent home. The other two boys had
different physicians. One lad age 12, under our care, was given 10 grams of ascorbic acid
with a 50 c.c. syringe every 8 hours. The concentration was one gram for each 5 c.c.
diluent. He was returned home on the second hospital day. The third boy received
supportive treatment but did not receive ascorbic acid. His body was something to see. The
spray had produced an allergic dermatitis as well as a chemical burn. He died
on the 5th hospital day.

Case History: Nasal Diphtheria

Three children, living in the same neighborhood, developed nasal diphtheria. All three
children had different physicians. A little girl under our care was given 10 grams
ascorbic acid, intravenously, with a 50 c.c. syringe every 8 hours for the first 24 hours
and then every 12 hours for two times. She was then put on one gram ascorbic acid every
two hours by mouth. She lived and is now a graduate nurse. The other children did not
receive ascorbic acid and both died. Our young patient also received 40,000 units
diphtheria antitoxin which was given intraperitoneal. The other children also were
administered the antitoxin.

Case History: Poliomyelitis

Although we were able to cure many cases of polio with massive doses of ascorbic acid,
one single instance demonstrates the value of vitamin C. Two brothers were sick with
poliomyelitis. These two boys were given 10 and 12 grams of ascorbic acid, according to
weight, intravenously with a 50 c.c. syringe, every eight hours for 4 times and then every
12 hours for 4 times. They also were given one gram every two hours by mouth around the
clock. They made complete recovery and both were athletic stars in high school and
college. A third child, a neighbor, under the care of another physician received no
ascorbic acid. This child also lived. The young lady is still wearing braces.

Case History: Acute Virus Infection representing Deadly Virus
Syndrome

Cases with paralysis are extremely interesting in as much as they
challenge diagnostic prowess. One of our cases, a female age 58, demonstrated three
different types. She entered the hospital because of a convulsive seizure. She had had a lingering
cold
for ten days. She experienced three additional convulsive seizures after
hospital admission. The temperature was 100.8蚌. pulse 140, respirations 32. She was
extremely restless. Twenty-four grams ascorbic acid in 360 c.c. 5D water was given
intravenously for three times at 8 hour intervals. One gram calcium gluconate was added to
the first and third bottle. Twenty four hours following admission and 72 grams ascorbic
acid in the blood stream, patient was awake and rational but completely paralyzed, right
arm and leg. Five grams ascorbic acid was given in fruit juice every 6 hours by mouth and
6 grams ascorbic acid along with a B complex preparation was given intravenously, daily
for eight additional days. The right arm and leg returned to normal 48 hours after
admission. Classical pellagra was also corrected during this hospital
stay.

Case History: Repeating virus infection

This case proved that adequate ascorbic acid therapy must be continued
long enough to destroy all virus bodies, otherwise the infection will recur. In 1960, I
treated a seven year old boy, off and on, over a period of six weeks, for influenza like
symptoms. Therapy included one of the mold derived drugs, sulfadiazine and 5 to 10 grams
ascorbic acid by mouth. On three different occasions this treatment schedule was
dramatically effective. When the child became ill for the fourth time, the administration
of the above antibiotics and oral vitamin C had no reversing effect. On the third day of
this illness the child suddenly became lethargic and just as suddenly to frank stupor. The
temperature which had been running low grade was now 102.6蚌.  At this paint all
oral medication was discontinued. I immediately gave six grams of ascorbic acid
intravenously with a 30 c.c. syringe. He was awake and asking, “what happened”
in 5 minutes. Six grams ascorbic acid was given in 4 hours and then at 6 hour intervals
for two additional doses. The recovery was complete in 24 hours and remained so. Ascorbic
acid was again started by mouth giving 5 grams in juice every 8 hours. After one week,
this was reduced to the usual daily “take” of seven grams. I had ample
opportunity to observe this case–the child was our son.

Case History: Snake bite

Child of 4 years was struck on the lower leg by a large highland moccasin at 7:00 P.M.,
while at play in the yard of her country home. Seen in the emergency room of the local
hospital at 7:30 P.M., the child was vomiting, was crying because of severe pain in her
leg, which she held with both hands above the “fang marks”. Fever was 99.0蚌.
Four grams of ascorbic acid was given intravenously at 7:35 P.M. with a 20 c.c. syringe.
The following 25 minutes were taken to follow a skin test on anti-venom. At this time and
before the anti-venom was administered the child had stopped vomiting, she had stopped
crying and was sitting on the emergency room table, laughing and drinking a glass of
orange juice. She commented: “Come on, Daddy, I’m all right now, let’s go home.”
She was allowed to return home with the understanding that her father would give me a
report, by phone, each hour during the night. This he did. His report, each time, was that
the child was sleeping as usual and that except for moderate swelling to the “calf of
the leg”, appeared normal. Seen in the office at 10:00 A.M. the following morning she
still demonstrated the small amount of swelling of her leg and had 1/2 degree fever. She
was given a second dose of 4 grams of ascorbic acid intravenously. Seen at 5 P.M. she had
no fever but the swelling remained constant. There was no pain. The following day, 38
hours after being bitten, she was completely normal. Since this was our first case of
snake bite treated with vitamin C, we elected to give an additional 4 grams of ascorbic
acid on this visit. No other antibiotics were given and none was required. Since she had
had a booster injection of tetanus toxoid in recent months, none was given at this time.

Comparing this to an earlier case of snake bite in a 16 year old girl, struck by a
moccasin of about the same size, as gauged from the fang marks, on the hand while pulling
tobacco plants, and who was hospitalized for three weeks. She was given 3 doses of
anti-venom. The arm was compressed continuously with magnesium sulfate solution. Swelling
was four times that of the opposite arm and striae developed over the entire surface. This
patient received no vitamin C other than that found in a regular hospital diet. Morphine
was required to control pain. (We no longer use anti-venom.)

Case History: An Insidious virus

This was a child of 18 months. She was seen in the driveway to my home at about 7:00
P.M. The history was brief. The child had strangled on food while eating supper. A cursory
examination given in the front seat of an automobile revealed an extremely restless,
whining child. The temperature was 98.6蚌. (axillary 10 minutes-corrected). There was no
obstruction to the air-ways. We did elicit the information, that the child had had a
cold for several days
. We also learned that the child’s mother had taken her for
a long stroller ride the previous day限which in this area was damp and cold. Frankly the
impulse to send the child home was great.

Remembering that I had seen children dead within 30 minutes to two hours
after hospital admission without treatment, I decided to buy some time. The Uncle was
asked to take the child to the emergency room of the local hospital. The nurse on duty was
given an order to take a rectal temperature and then give a fleets enema. If the results
proved unsatisfactory, she was to repeat the procedure in 30 minutes using a normal saline
solution. Approximately 45 minutes after leaving my home, the intern on duty reported by
phone, that the child was unconscious to a point where she responded only to pain stimuli.
The enema had not been given. Going at once to the hospital, conditions were found as
described. The little patient was lying motionless on the examining table. Using a
suitable size rectal tube I gave the enema with good results. The stool was normal. Rectal
temperature taken at the hospital was 98.4蚌. (corrected). The pulse rate was 152 per
minute and respirations were 32 per minute. It was impossible to visualize the throat
because the mouth was “locked” as one finds after stimulation in lockjaw. Our
impression was that the virus had now entered the brain.

Thirty grams of ascorbic acid, in divided doses, was given intramuscularly over a
period of 36 hours. Crystalline penicillin was started on the second day and 300,000 units
were administered in divided doses over the next three days. This was added to block
secondary invaders. One hour following admission we applied a 4 x 4 gauze, saturated with
tap water, to the child’s lips. The sucking reflex was still intact, but the child
immediately strangled. Turning the child head down, the small amount of water ran from its
nostrils. Now it was clear. It was this “bulbar phenomenon
that was at play when the child was eating supper. The nursing log showed the temperature
to be 99.0蚌. (corrected) 1 1/2 hours after admission and 1 1/2 hours later it was
recorded at 100.0蚌. (corrected). The nursing log at this time read: “Shows no sign
of consciousness.” Temperature was 101.2蚌. four hours after admission and was
102.4蚌. (corrected) after six hours. Now the nursing log read: “Baby swallowed
water without difficulty.” At this point the temperature curve started back down and
by 7:00 A.M. (11 hours following admission) the child was alert and taking water freely
from a spoon. Twenty eight hours after the first injection of ascorbic acid the
temperature was normal. Water, milk and orange juice were now taken from a bottle. Cecon
(liquid vitamin C) was given by mouth. Discharge was on the 5th hospital day. The initial low
fever recording indicated that the child was dying
; after ascorbic acid therapy
she began to respond, thus the fever. After the virus was killed, the temperature returned
to normal.

Case History: Monoxide Poisoning

State highway employee carried into my office in unconscious condition. He was a known
diabetic. The breathing was not Kussmaul type and his skin was warm and dry. We elicited
the information that he had been found in the cab of his truck with the windows closed and
the engine running. It was a cold Winter day. Entertaining a diagnosis of Monoxide
intoxication we immediately gave 12 grams ascorbic acid with a 50 c.c. syringe using a 20
gauge needle. (We employ a 20 G. needle when using a 50 c.c. syringe; 21 G needle for a 30
c.c. syringe; 22 G needle for a 20 c.c. syringe and a 23 G needle for a 10 c.c. syringe.
This assists in controlling the rate of flow which is important, especially, in young
children). Within 10 minutes the patient was awake, sitting up on the edge of the
examining table, rubbing his eyes and saving: “Doc, what in the world am I doing up
here in your office.” He returned to his place of employment within 45 minutes.

Case History #1: Acute Virus qancarditis

A five year old boy was admitted to the local hospital with history of having a
“relapse” after recovery from measles. The physical findings
showed a thready and feeble pulse. A distinct rub was in evidence by auscultation. The EKG
showed RS-T deviations. The temperature was 105蚌.. Ascorbic acid calculated at 400 mg
per Kg body weight was given intravenously with a syringe. Within two hours the picture
had almost reverted to normal. Injection of vitamin C was repeated in 6 hours and again at
12 hours. A fourth injection was given after 24 hours although the patient was clinically
well. The child returned home on the 4th hospital day.

Case History #2: Acute Virus Pancarditis following a deep cold

The findings approximated those of case #1. The parents elected to take the child to
Duke Medical Center. Six grams of ascorbic acid was given by needle before starting the
trip to the hospital which was 60 miles away. Upon arrival at the Medical Center the child
had made such dramatic response to the single injection of ascorbic acid that the parents
were tempted to return home. The receiving physician questioned the sickness of the child
as being out of proportion to that relayed by me during our telephone conversation. The
parents assured the physician that the child had been seriously ill, but that the change
came about after receiving the ascorbic acid. Although 50 grams (25 ampoules) of ascorbic
acid was sent along with the parents, none was given because the physician in charge
stated that he would be afraid to give that size dose, intravenously, to a child. The fact
that we had administered six grams, which represented a dose of 400 mg per Kg body weight,
apparently had no influence. Laboratory findings, however, confirmed our impression and
the child was hospitalized for two weeks. Two additional injections of vitamin C would
have cured the child in 24 hours.

Case History: Acute Pancreatitis

Adult Male seen in the emergency room of local hospital complaining of severe,
agonizing pain in the epigastrium which radiated to the back. Nausea and vomiting were
present. Serum amylase studies showed a concentration of 345. This was the 4th such attack
experienced by this patient. Sixty grams ascorbic acid in 700 c.c. Dextrose in water was
given intravenously. 20 mg Pantapon was given in the emergency room. No additional opiates
were required. The patient made an uneventful recovery. He was placed on 10 grams ascorbic
acid by mouth and has not had a recurrence in almost 5 years. He has, however, developed
mild diabetes mellitus which is now controlled with diet and vitamin C.

END

I am in full agreement with Lancelot Hogben who said, “A scientific idea must live
dangerously or die of inanition. Science thrives on daring generalizations. There is
nothing particularly scientific about excessive caution. Cautious explorers do not cross
the Atlantic of truth.”




Robert F. Cathcart, M.D.

Allergy, Environmental and Orthomolecular Medicine

IMPORTANT:  Information provided is intended for educational purposes and is not intended to be medical advice nor offered as a prescription, diagnosis or treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition. Always consult your own medical provider about your health and medical questions before making any health related decision. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration.