AVAILABILITY OF MEDICINES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00926A003400040010-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 14, 2006
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: September 29, 2003
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP80-00926AO03400040010-0
CLASSIFICATION COOI3,J"IAT./US OFFICIALS
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 25X1
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT Availability of Medicines
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE'
ACQUIRE
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT 50
U. S. C.. 31 AND 32, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO-
HIS ITED BY LAW. REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
REPORT
DATE DIST .
may 1951
NO. OF PAGES 1
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
1. In estimating China?s requirements for medicine, it must be remembered that 90%
25X1 to 95% of the people do not know or use the modern products of. the Western
25X1 World. They rely on the native remedies handed down from their ancestors which
have little therapeutic value. The supply of modern medicines would supply
25X1 only the military and the small educated group of-civilians.
2. The lack of industrial development leaves China without a local source' of most
raw materials such as aniline, and phenol. Medicinal plants grown are rhubarb,
licorice, digitalis, ephedra, and opium poppy.
3, The National Vaccine and Serum Institute [ekiniJ is the largest and only im-
portant producer of i:ccines and sera. These covered typhus, small pox, typhoid,
yellow fever, and tetanus. Production was ample for normal use.
4. China Biological Laboratories made sulphas but in a limited quantity of perhaps
50 pounds daily. .Since they are dependent on imports of aniline, the output today
is problematical. I
5. There was no useful production of antibiotics. The National Vaccine and Serum;
Institute had a small experimeiptal penicillin plant. It is unlikely there is any
important volume produced- now; -- .f sb, the.:. quality:.woUld,berpoar.
6. China was-dependent on importation of quinine for anti-malarial use. There had
been no synthesis of atabrine although this could be done in useful quantity since
the dosage is small. Since quinine can be obtained from India and production of
atabrine requires imported phenol, production of the latter is unlikely.,
7. DDT wake made but in negligible quantity. Supplies were being imported and t-as
replacing pyrethrum which bad been imported from Japan. The only insecticides
made from local raw material were from camphor and were ineffective. Any important
output of DDT now is improbable as they would lack phenol.
CLASSIFICATION
NA)
1XI AIR
ARMY
OON j~TJS O1 Ti'T4!TAT Al T Y
_ .DISTRIBUTION
1z
1 I Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP80-00926AO03400040010-0