Thalidomide is a drug. It was sold from the late 1950s as something safe and gentle — it made people calm and helped them sleep, and doctors gave it to pregnant women for morning sickness.

ThalidomideThalidomide is是 a drug一種藥. It was sold from the late 1950s從1950年代晚期開始上市 as something safe and gentle被當成安全、溫和的藥——it made people calm and helped them sleep它讓人平靜、幫助入睡, and doctors gave it to pregnant women for morning sickness醫生也開給孕婦治療孕吐.

Then it became clear that it did terrible harm. Babies whose mothers had taken it were born with arms and legs that had not grown properly, and many did not survive. Thousands of families were affected before the drug was pulled from sale in the early 1960s.

Then後來 it became clear大家才發現 that it did terrible harm它造成了可怕的傷害. Babies whose mothers had taken it母親服用過這種藥的嬰兒 were born出生時 with arms and legs that had not grown properly手臂和腿沒有正常發育, and many did not survive很多都沒能存活. Thousands of families有數千個家庭 were affected受到影響 before the drug was pulled from sale in the early 1960s在1960年代初這種藥被下架之前.

Because of that, the word carries far more than its plain meaning. When people say thalidomide now, they are usually talking about the disaster, not the pill: it is the standard example of why new medicines must be tested hard and long, and why a drug that seems safe for an adult may not be safe for a baby growing inside someone. Modern drug-safety rules in most countries came partly out of it.

Because of that正因如此, the word carries far more than its plain meaning這個字承載的意義遠超過它字面上的意思. When people say thalidomide now現在人們說thalidomide時, they are usually talking about the disaster, not the pill通常是在講那場災難，不是那顆藥丸: it is the standard example它是標準的例子 of why new medicines must be tested hard and long說明為什麼新藥必須經過嚴格、長期的測試, and why a drug that seems safe for an adult也說明為什麼對成人安全的藥 may not be safe for a baby growing inside someone對體內正在成長的胎兒未必安全. Modern drug-safety rules in most countries大部分國家現代的藥物安全規範 came partly out of it有一部分就是從這件事來的.

There is one more turn to the story, and it surprises people: the drug did not disappear. Doctors found it works against certain cancers and against a serious problem caused by leprosy, so it is still used today — but under very strict control, and never for anyone who might become pregnant.

There is one more turn to the story這故事還有一個轉折, and it surprises people會讓人意外: the drug did not disappear這種藥並沒有消失. Doctors found醫生發現 it works against certain cancers它對某些癌症有效 and against a serious problem caused by leprosy對痲瘋病引起的一種嚴重併發症也有效, so it is still used today所以今天仍在使用——but under very strict control但受到非常嚴格的管控, and never for anyone who might become pregnant而且絕不能用在可能懷孕的人身上.

It is written with a small letter, thalidomide, though you will see it capitalised as a brand name in older writing.

It is written with a small letter這個字通常小寫, thalidomidethalidomide, though you will see it capitalised as a brand name不過在比較舊的文章裡，你會看到它被大寫當作品牌名 in older writing.