TOXICITY OF ANTIBIOTIC SUBSTANCES 



245 



TOXICITY OF ANTIBIOTIC SUBSTANCES 



The various antibiotic substances obtained from microorganisms vary 

 greatly in their toxicity to animals. The therapeutic use of many of these 

 agents, like actinomycin or clavacin, which are highly bacteriostatic, 

 may be considered as either entirely excluded for the present or limited 

 only to local applications. Some substances, as pyocyanase, penicillin, 

 and streptothricin, are relatively nontoxic (754) j others, like tyrothri- 

 cin (756) and fumigacin (752), are slightly toxicj and still others, like 

 actinomycin and clavacin, are highly toxic (757, 941). Some, like ty- 

 rothricin, are hemolytic (390, 579) j others, like penicillin, actinomycin, 

 and streptothricin, are not (Table 46). 



TABLE 46. ACUTE TOXICITY TO MICE OF VARIOUS ANTIBIOTIC AGENTS 



From Robinson (752). 



Note: Figures represent maximal tolerated dose in mgm./kgm. 



