Eli Lilly and Company September 18, 1970, rock guitarist legend Jimi Hendrix died from a secobarbital overdose. On June 22, 1969, secobarbital overdose was the cause of death of actress Judy Garland. The drug was a central part of the plot of the hugely popular novel "Valley of the Dolls" (1966) by Jacqueline Susann in which three highly successful Hollywood women each fall victim, in various ways, to the drug. The novel was later released as a film by the same name. Eli Lilly has developed the vaccine preservative thiomersal (also called merthiolate and thimerosal). Thiomersal is effective by causing susceptible bacteria to autolyze.
Valley of the Dolls (film) novel's author, Jacqueline Susann). Anne abandons drugs (By throwing them across the room) and her unfaithful lover and takes a train returning to New England, where her aunt Amy (Judith Lowry in an uncredited role) lives, and she finds she is truly happier. She moves back in with her aunt and with the money she accrued over the years, helps her with the house and finances. Lyon ends his affair with Neely (when he quits as her manager) and travels to New England to ask Anne to marry him. She decides to move on with her life (remaining in New