I was shocked to read in The Argus (May 14) about the wide demand for Botox treatment for cosmetic purposes, because I had just received information on this subject from a German doctors' association which I used to work for.

They point out the botulin toxin used is one of the most powerful known poisons - one thousandth of a milligram can kill a human being and even in minute doses its long-term effects on humans have not yet been researched.

Perhaps worst of all, since it is classified as a medicine under EU law, every batch of Botox is tested on up to 100 mice by injecting it into their abdomens, causing them terrible suffering from muscle cramps, impaired vision and breathing difficulties until they die up to four days later from suffocation.

At least 30,000 mice are estimated to die in Botox tests in Germany alone.

It is everybody's natural wish not to age too quickly, but surely the potential risk to one's own health and the cruelty involved in its marketing should rule Botox out as a beauty treatment.

  • Dennis B Stuart, Fitzhardinge House, Marine Parade, Brighton