288 IMMUNOLOGY 



pounds are being produced and investigated quite rapidly. At the 

 present time sulfathiazole, sulfapyridine, and in certain cases 

 sulfanilamide are being used extensively in the treatment of many 

 types of bacterial infection and as prophylactic chemotherapy in 

 war wounds and a few other conditions. As a rule these drugs 

 are given orally although the sodium salt of sulfanilamide may be 

 injected. It should be emphasized that these drugs are not a cure- 

 all, that toxic reactions may follow their administration, and that 

 their employment requires clinical supervision and laboratory de- 

 termination of blood levels, etc. Sulfathiazole and sulfapyridine 

 are being employed in conjunction with type specific sera in the 

 treatment of pneumonia. According to Goodman and Gilman 

 (1941), sulfathiazole and sulfapyridine are apparently of value 

 in pneumococcal pneumonia, bacteremia and empyema ; in a great 

 variety of staphylococcal, hemolytic streptococcal, meningococcal, 

 and gonococcal infections. According to Hamilton (1941), and 

 Hamilton and Wasson (1941), certain strains of Lancefield's 

 group D streptococci were refractory to sulfathiazole. Major 

 (1940) has reported apparent cures in two cases of strepto- 

 coccus endocarditis treated early in the disease. None of 

 the sulfanilamide compounds, according to Carey (1940), seem 

 to be of value in rheumatic fever, diphtheria, virus disease, 

 H. influenzae or typhoid-dysentery infections. This is interesting 

 since Buttle and associates reported (1937) that sulfanilamide 

 protects mice against E. typhosa and S. paratyphosi. Kolmer 

 (1940) found sulfanilamide protected mice against Br. abortus 

 but not against Br. suis and was only moderately protective against 

 Br. nielitensis. Carey (1940), however, states that sulfanilamide 

 was used in three cases of Br. abortus infection without any 

 demonstrable effect. 



According to Buttle (1940), the sulfonamide compounds are in- 

 effective against CI. oedenuitiens but very effective against CI. 

 welchii. For a more extensive discussion of the chemistry, 

 pharmacology, mode of action, indication and contraindication of 

 these compounds, the student is referred to the publications of 

 Mellon, Gross and Cooper (1938), Goodman and Gilman (1941), 

 Lockwood (1940), Carey (1940), and other papers listed in the 

 references at the end of this chapter. 



