234 DISEASE CONTROL 



were found to be inhibited completely by penicillin. The number of 

 organisms decreased greatly at the end of i or 2 hours' contact with the 

 substance, and no viable organisms were found after 3 to 4 hours' con- 

 tact. The complete absence of toxicity following the intravenous admin- 

 istration of penicillin, the lack of discomfort to the patient, and the rapid 

 disappearance of clinical symptoms were observed in cases of sulfonam- 

 ide-resistant gonorrheal infections. In all the cases reported, in addi- 

 tion to the clinical response noted, negative bacterial cultures were ob- 

 tained some time between 1 7 and 48 hours after the institution of peni- 

 cillin therapy. Sulfonamide-resistant gonorrhea cases responded to in- 

 jections of 100,000 to 160,000 Oxford units (136, 479, 549, 863). Fa- 

 vorable responses have also been obtained in the treatment of sulfon- 

 amide-resistant strains causing staphylococcal pneumonia and empyema 

 (44, 6s) and other diseases. The susceptibility of various bacteria to 

 penicillin can be determined by means of a very simple technique (879). 



A favorable therapeutic response was obtained by administering peni- 

 cillin intravenously to patients with staphylococcal infections and by 

 mouth to a baby with a persistent staphylococcal urinary infection. In 

 patients suffering from meningitis, penicillin was found to be absorbed 

 more rapidly than in normal persons, and a larger part of the dose was 

 excreted in the urine (723, 725). 



Penicillin has not been found to be effective in trypanosome infec- 

 tions, but has been used successfully in the treatment of relapsing fever 

 (29, 393), although excessive doses were required (220, 221). 



Treatment of early syphilis cases with penicillin (575) indicated that 

 the therapy was responsible for the rapid and complete disappearance of 

 the infecting agent from the blood stream, as determined by various 

 tests (112, 271, 275, 523a, 805). Penicillin was found to be actively 

 spirocheticidal (222). A comparative study has been made of the action 

 of penicillin and of other antibiotic agents upon Treponema -pallida 

 (2iy). The administration, at 3-hour intervals for a period of 15 hours, 

 of 20,000 units of penicillin intramuscularly was found satisfactory in 

 the control of gonorrhea in men (879a, 907). Penicillin was also found 

 to have an effect upon experimental typhus rickettsiae (357, 614). 



As a result of treatment of 300 patients with penicillin, it has been 

 concluded (748) that this material is far superior to any of the sulfonam- 



