Day 039 - 20 Oct 94 - Page 09

     
     1        Mr. Justice Bell's suggestion, 1 was evidence of rare not
     2        serious reaction -- if you want to write these down?
     3
     4   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you want me to read them out as I have
     5        them in my note?
     6
     7   MR. MORRIS:  Yes.
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I have got 1, comparatively rare allergies
    10        and not very serious; then a little later on -- this was
    11        page 24 of the transcript -- Professor Walker added to that
    12        "and reversible";  2, very high dose only, which means
    13        that a reaction showed only if a very high dose was given.
    14        A.  Reactions occurring?
    15
    16   Q.   Very high dose only; then I went on to explain that by that
    17        he meant that the reaction had only been demonstrated if a
    18        very high dose had been given.
    19        A.  But the kinds of reactions falling under this heading
    20        would still be acute.
    21
    22   Q.   They would be reactions which are set out in the abstract,
    23        or some of them, but he would say:  "Yes, OK, that reaction
    24        but only if you give a very high dose".
    25
    26   MR. MORRIS:  For example, in animal testing.
    27        A.  That might include an acute reaction as well as a
    28        tumour development in a group of animals.
    29
    30   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  It might just be a rash or a tummy
    31        upset, something like that.
    32
    33   MR. MORRIS:  Any of the four categories basically.
    34
    35   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Then 3, was no satisfactory evidence of such
    36        reactions; and merely to remind you that was particularly
    37        what he said in relation to hyperactivity, anecdotal, no
    38        satisfactory evidence.  But those were the three
    39        categories.
    40
    MR. MORRIS:  I have a suggestion for a fourth category in the
    42        light of Dr. Millstone's evidence ---
    43
    44   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
    45
    46   MR. MORRIS:  -- which is, if you like, a double one.  I have put
    47        it as a double one because it is, or it could be 4,
    48        I suppose, which is something that is a common reaction or
    49        a serious reaction or, I suppose, a non-reversible
    50        reaction -- the thing is if we are going to put a number, 
    51        we have to have a particular category. 
    52        A.  Forgive me.  I would not wish to be awkward, but my 
    53        reading of the literature is the range of different kinds
    54        of reactions are really very diverse, and trying to force
    55        them into this relatively narrow set of boxes might risk
    56        misrepresenting it.  I am more comfortable with taking the
    57        evidence and characterising particular features, and if it
    58        fits under one of these headings I am prepared to
    59        acknowledge that, but if it not does fit under one of these
    60        headings, I would not wish to pretend that it did.