43. Mr. E. P. Smithasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that arthritis has been successfully treated with ertron, a derivative of ergosterol, at the Cook County Hospital, Chicago; and whether he will arrange for the treatment to be tried in this country.
§ Mr. WillinkNo, Sir. My information is that the claims made for the product called ertron in the treatment of arthritis are not accepted by the most authoritative medical opinion in the United States, and that clinical evidence over a period of some seven years past does not warrant the belief that it has beneficial effects.
Mr. SmithIs the Minister not aware that American doctors who are using this treatment claim 93 per cent. of successful cases?
§ Mr. WillinkClaims are often made, but I think my hon. Friend will see from my answer that the matter has been fully considered.