The discovery by an Israeli scientist of a birth control process through a pill made from an extract of mushrooms was announced in the press here today. The scientist, well known in England, is Dr. M.C. Shelesnyak, head of the department of endocrinology and reproductive physiology at the Weizmann Institute of Science, at Rehovot.
Dr. Shelesnyak has been working on the new process for eight years, according to the report here, carrying on some of his researches at Birmingham University in England, three years ago. In 1958, he received the Oliver Bird Prize There for developing a theory on the mechanization of implantation and its control.
According to the reports received here, Dr. Shelesnyak said he has, thus far, carried out his experiments with the birth control pills on animals only, avoiding experimentation with women so as not to “become involved in religious controversy.” However, it is reported in one dispatch that the scientist and his colleagues have made some “major tests” with about 100 women volunteers in Israel, “meeting with absolute success.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
