James - Thanks Elaine. Thalidomide is a drug that was used to treat morning sickness and sleeping problems in pregnant women in the 1950's and early 1960's. It was withdrawn in late 1961 after causing severe birth differences in thousands of children around the world, including the UK, Europe, Japan, Australia and the US. The most stereotypical effect of thalidomide on the developing baby was to the arms where it caused a loss of or a reduction in length of the long bones of the arms. But it manifested in many other ways too.