Medicine: Nazi Pep-Pills

The mysterious “pep-pills” long-rumored in use by the Nazi army have been tentatively identified. They are probably benzedrine sulfate—a drug ten times as potent as caffeine and often used by U.S. college students (without regard to the harmful aftereffects on their nerves) to supercharge them through cram-sessions and finals. This is the conclusion of Gordon Alles and George Feigen of Cal Tech, who have been studying antifatigue drugs for years. The U.S. is not officially supplying its armed forces with such pills, although the British use them. So far as Dr. Alles knows, no pep-pills have been captured on Nazi troops, but letters indicate that stimulants were used as early as the Polish campaign.

The New York City Health Department will soon investigate reports that athlete’s foot is being spread in stores now that more & more women are appearing stockingless to try on shoes. Many shoe dealers are already distressed about the problem, but dare not ask their customers to put on socks before trying on shoes.