SPECIFIC THERAPY WITH BACTERIOPHAGE SUSPENSIONS 565 



McKinley reports the treatment of 4 cases of old wounds, heavily 

 mfected, chiefly by the staphylococcus. In all of the cases the results 

 were essentially the same; the suppuration stopped shortly after the 

 application of the bacteriophage and the processes of healing began 

 promptly. His observations recorded as to one of these cases are sum- 

 marized here, this particular case being selected because of the marked 

 general reaction which was caused by the third injection, given 6 days 

 after the first. 



J. N. C, a sheet metal worker, aged 57, entered the hospital on October 11, 

 as the result of a fall from a height of 30 feet. He landed on both feet, suffering 

 a compound fracture of the right tibia and fibula and a crushing fracture of the 

 OS calcis, with a dislocation of the astragalus of the left foot. The bones of the 

 right leg were set, and both the right leg and the left foot were placed in casts. 



On March 26, a piece of bone about 3 inches (7.62 cm.) long was removed from 

 the right leg, and the cast reapplied. The wound was badly infected with Staphy- 

 lococcus aureus. 



April 10: Two cubic centimeters of staphylococcus bacteriophage were in- 

 jected into the discharging wound and subcutaneously around the wound. 



April 11 : The discharge was markedly decreased. 



April 12: Two cubic centimeters of bacteriophage were again injected into the 

 wound and subcutaneously around the wound. One cubic centimeter was given 

 subcutaneously into the right arm. 



April 13: There was practically no discharge. 



April 14: The wound appeared much improved. There was practically no 

 discharge. 



April 15: The condition was about the same. 



April 16: Two cubic centimeters of bacteriophage were again injected into the 

 wound and subcutaneously around it. Treatment was given at 8 o'clock in the 

 morning. At noon the temperature was 103°F. The patient began to have 

 cramping pains all over the body and marked emesis. Chills were marked and 

 lasted until 5 o'clock that afternoon. 



April 17 : The patient's condition was a little improved. The wound was heal- 

 ing well. There was no discharge. 



April 18: His general condition was much better. His temperature was 

 normal. He had no chills. He had little nausea but felt weak. The wound was 

 healing well. 



April 23: The patient's condition was good. The wound was healing. There 

 was no discharge. The wound, formerly about 1 inch (2.54 cm.) deep, con- 

 tinued to heal, and on May 18 healing was nearly complete, except for a slight 

 depression which contained a small amount of blood clot. 



centimeter, — is more simple and much quicker, and is certainly to be preferred. 

 Furthermore, it conforms to the procedure which I have employed throughout 

 for all of the suspensions which have been used so successfully for therapeutic 

 purposes. 



