A tremendous amount of research has proved that vitamin C is vitally important in overcoming infections, but the use of antibiotics-and greater profits made from their sale. In a single year no less than 45 research projects reported that vitamin C rendered harmless a wide variety of bacterial toxins, and inhibited the growth of whatever bacteria it failed to destroy; that its action was non-specific in that it was deadly to all types of viruses and bacteria; and that while small amounts could bring some immunity, huge doses were much more effective. When large quantities were given to guinea pigs already injected with bacteria, 99 per cent of the body cells showed evidence of bacterial destruction in a single hour.

Multiple protective functions are performed by vitamin C. It not only aids the adrenals, but also stimulates the production of antibodies, white blood cells and the complement, and increases the bacteria-destroying ability of white blood cells. A count of approximately 5,000 white blood cells is considered to be normal. A high white blood count shows that an infection exists and also that the body is fighting it; a low count indicates that the body has no resources with which to fight. When 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C have been taken daily during a cold, the white count has promptly risen from far below normal to 9,000 or more.

Dr. Fred R. Klenner, of Reidsville, North Carolina, has used massive quantities of vitamin C in treating successfully patients of all ages suffering from such serious illnesses as virus pneumonia, encephalitis, meningitis, poliomyelitis, tetanus, or lockjaw, and many other infections. Usually these patients had an extremely high fever, were unconscious, and many had been given up earlier by physicians who believed them to be beyond help; some appeared to be dying, and in one case rigor mortis had actually set in.

Dr. Klenner gave the vitamin by injection in amounts ranging from 2 to 4 grams approximately every two to four hours around the clock to extremely ill patients. Sometimes he gave antibiotics or other medications in addition to vitamin C, although these drugs had usually been given by other physicians before the patients had become so desperately ill. An amazing number of these persons regained consciousness quickly, were able to drink juices within a few hours, took further vitamin C by mouth, and were discharged from the hospital in three or four days.

The vitamin C is more effective when given with some form of calcium. The amount of vitamin C required varies with the seriousness of the illness. Because viruses and bacteria not destroyed quickly multiply, bringing a recurrence of symptoms, and because this vitamin C is not toxic, it is better to err by taking too much rather than too little. The ascorbic acid in proper doses can save countless individuals once physicians awaken to the real value of that vitamin.

Other doctors have shown that massive amounts of vitamin C compare favorably with antibiotics, but have no toxic effects; and that the vitamin was particularly helpful in speeding recovery from mononucleosis and infectious hepatitis even after all medication had proved futile. Hundreds of persons made remarkable recoveries after taking large amounts of vitamin C.