Medicine: Pills & Paste

"Have you got anything to help my girl out? She's in trouble."

This not uncommon appeal across a drugstore counter spawns one of the world's meanest, lowest rackets. As every druggist knows, the customer who makes this plea is interested in abortion and usually wants a box of pills (often hideously expensive). As every gynecologist knows, pills don't work—and are highly dangerous. Last week the U.S. Food & Drug Administration let it be known that it had launched a determined drive against the thriving abortion-drug trade.

Doctors estimate that one U.S. pregnancy out of every three ends in abortion. Some abortions are spontaneous...

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