SODIUM THIOCYANATE (RHODANATE) IN NARCOTIC ADDICTION

To the Editor:  —There has been disseminated, largely through the lay press, considerable publicity concerning the use of sodium rhodanate (thiocyanate), as a "cure" for drug addiction. Most of this has emanated from that branch of the department of chemistry of Cornell University under Prof. Wilder D. Bancroft. The claim is made that this drug is a dependable and efficient "cure" for morphinism and that it also exerts a favorable influence in alcoholism, acute and chronic, and in some of the psychoses.The Tompkins County Medical Society has watched this development with considerable interest and has observed the widespread publicity given this drug to the lay press, with no little concern. It thus takes this opportunity to lay before you its opinion on some phases of this problem.As is well known, in any inquiry regarding the value or lack of value of any therapeutic device or agent for the