phocomelia

...This drug was widely used around the world, and was also sold in Japan under the brand name Isomin. However, it was soon suspected that it was related to the increase in phocomelia, a condition in which babies are deformed with missing limbs. In 1961, W. Lenz and others accused it of being the causative agent, and its sale was banned. Until then, in addition to being used for sedation and hypnosis, thalidomide had been widely prescribed, and was also used in combination tablets for pain, coughs, and insomnia, and was easily taken by pregnant women. ...

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "phocomelia" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…この薬は世界で広く用いられ，日本でもイソミンの商品名で発売された。しかし，間もなく四肢に欠損のある奇形児アザラシ肢症phocomeliaの増加と関係があるのではないかとの疑いがもたれ，61年にW.レンツらにより原因物質として告発され，発売は禁止された。それまで，サリドマイドは鎮静，催眠の目的のほかにも，広く処方され，痛み，咳，不眠症などに使われる複合錠剤中にも使われ，妊婦も手軽に服用していたのである。…

※「phocomelia」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報