Eugene Schoenfeld M.D.

HipPocrates

1969

9-o-fe-81-6-eugene-schoenfeld-1969.jpg
Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld speaking at Community Arts Auditorium, May 28, 1969 at a benefit for Open City. Photo: Alan Gotkin.

QUESTION: Dear Dr. Schoenfeld: “I am replying to a recent column of yours and to the girl that complained about her boyfriend’s balls. It seemed that during intercourse, his balls banged against her body and she didn’t care for this. That girl is absolutely NUTS!

First of all, I like men with large testes and a well-hung scrotum. During intercourse with my boyfriends, I love their testicles to bang against my body. In fact, the harder they bang, the more I dig it.

I guess I should tell you that I am a man, and it’s anal intercourse I speak about.

P.S. Next time you see Frances and Mark of the San Francisco chapter of the Sexual Freedom League, give them my love. I think they will know who sends it!”

ANSWER: Due to other recreational pursuits, I have not participated in Sexual Freedom League activities except to speak before the East Bay Chapter on two occasions. But if I should ever meet your friends, I’ll at least give them your best wishes.

QUESTION: Is it possible to tell whether or not a woman was a virgin from her skeletal remains?

If so, how?

ANSWER: Often it’s not possible to tell from a physical examination whether or not a woman is a virgin when she is alive. It’s never possible to determine this from skeletal remains.

QUESTION: In a recent column you said there is no scientific evidence that LSD causes leukemia and that recent research has found no difference in the chromosomes of LSD users and non-users. But I read a newspaper article quoting Dr. Samuel Irwin, a University of Oregon pharmacologist who said,

“I am now convinced that LSD causes chromosomal damage to circulating blood, but we have no evidence that it causes damage elsewhere and that’s where it stands.”

Does this in any way contradict your statement?

ANSWER: On August 16–17, 1969, an LSD Symposium was held at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco. Dr. Irwin, one of the participants, stated his belief that LSD caused changes in the chromosomes of circulating white blood cells. He also said research had failed to prove any damage to the bone marrow tissue which produces these cells. His conclusion was that LSD causes changes in white blood cell chromosomes and that no known harm was caused by these changes. The cells are replaced by the body every two years.

Another participant in the LSD symposium, Robert Sparkes, M.D., a UCLA geneticist, doubted whether LSD use caused even temporary changes in the circulating blood. His own research disclosed no difference in the chromosomes of LSD users and non-users.

Medical authorities do agree about some aspects of LSD use:

1. LSD should not be given to pregnant women or to any girl who does not use contraceptives (some girls have taken LSD and then found they were pregnant). In fact, no drug should be taken during pregnancy except on the specific advice of a physician.

2. No legal LSD exists on the black market, therefore quality may vary from pure drug to chemical garbage.

3. Medical supervision must always be available whenever LSD is used.

QUESTION: What are the effects of using grass and Thorazine together? My shrink says I should not smoke grass when taking Thorazine.

Is there any truth to this or is she just down on grass?

ANSWER: Maybe she doesn’t want to bring you down. Thorazine (Smith, Kline and French’s brand of chlorpromazine) is often used as a last resort in treating bad trips from LSD. In common with other tranquilizers, the drug is also effective in treating the infrequent bad trips from marijuana.

Marijuana has tranquilizing properties which might accentuate the effect of Thorazine. Sounds as if your psychiatrist is giving you good advice.

HOW TO RELIEVE ANXIETY DEPARTMENT: A few weeks ago I was asked to appear on a Chicago TV talk show. They kindly arranged for my air transportation and accommodations at one of Chicago’s finest hotels, the Executive House. But on the door of my hotel room was the following information:

“Outside knob always locked

Press button to shut out all keys Before retiring

To insure privacy PLEASE CHAIN LOCK YOUR DOOR

Thank you and good night

Harry E. Fear

Vice President and General Manager”

When the TV program ended at 1 a.m., I checked out of the hotel. At 2:15 a.m. I was aboard a flight to San Francisco.

Dear Dr. Hip Pocrates is a collection of letters and answers published by Grove Press. $5 at your favorite bookstore. Dr. Schoenfeld welcomes your letters. Write to him c/o Box 9002, Berkeley, California 94709.


Fifth Estate #90, October 16–29, 1969