[1960's] D.C. Children’s Center in Laurel
[back] Human Experiments

D.C. Children’s Center in Laurel in a section called the District Training School  60’s-Retarded children were used as human guinea pigs for both private industry and the government.   Among the experiments, was the testing of NeoBazine a diet pill commonly referred to as "rainbow pills."  They contained thyroxin, which caused tremors, nervousness, insomnia, and tachycardia.  It was being tested for its safety and efficiency.  In October 1964 the FDA found that the drug was not safe for use.  In 1962 the children were again used to test a drug for skin diseases, which doctors strongly suspected caused serious side effects to the human liver.  More than half the children tested suffered some liver dysfunction.  Eight were admitted to D.C. General Hospital for intensive care.  That same year, 17 Laurel Center children were used to study thyroid hormone metabolism in children.  The children were injected with thyroxin mixed with radioactive iodine to aid doctors in tracing a body process.  2003] Carol Rutz's Lecture at Indiana University