To the Editor:—
In the conclusion of the article "Some Effects of Myanesin in Psychiatric Patients" (J. A. M. A., June 25, 1949) the authors, Schlan and Unna, state that myanesin® (tolserol®) (3-ortho-toloxy-1,2-propanediol) is the only drug that allays anxiety without clouding consciousness. For the last few years efforts have been made to prevent stimuli originating in the emotional centers of the central nervous system from reaching the effector organs. Already there are: (1) an adrenolytic drug, dibenamine (N,N-dibenzyl-beta-chloroethylamine) (Rockwell, F. V.: Dibenamine Therapy in Certain Psychopathologic Syndromes, Psychosom, Med.10: 230 [July-Aug.] 1948), and (2) a thyroid inhibitory drug, propylthiouracil (Jonas, A. D.: Propylthiouracil in the Treatment of the Anxiety State, Med. Rec.161:422 [Aug.] 1948). Obviously, there are many more drugs with similar effect awaiting discovery. I mention here only an anticorticotropic and an antithyrotropic compound.