454 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1937 



This led to waves of publicity on the healing properties of allantoin 

 and aroused a vast amount of interest in the subject. As a conse- 

 quence a large number of physicians and surgeons obtained allantoin 

 and used it chnically. At the same time many inquiries came in from 

 people who wanted to treat themselves. 



Thus from a beginning in which only a few cases of burns and ulcers 

 were treated experimentally, the use of allantoin became extended to 

 include treatment by the medical profession of purulent infections 

 of the eye, middle ear, nose, and mouth, chronic osteomyelitis of all 

 bones, eczema, severe sunburn, pruritis, diabetic and varicose ulcers, 

 and suppurating heat and X-ray burns. 



To illustrate further the remarkable hcahng properties of allantoin, 

 without going mto too much detail, but to show the wide range of 

 wounds which respond to the treatment, a few typical cases are de- 

 scribed from information suppUed by our medical cooperators. 



An elderly woman had an infected eye removed, and despite every 

 treatment to reduce the infection of the eye socket it failed to heal and 

 continued to discharge for 2 years. Finally, when the socket was 

 packed with wet allantoin dressings it responded promptly and healed 

 in less than 3 weeks. 



Following extraction of a diseased molar tooth in a man, the 

 jawbone became infected. Two operations for removal of dead bone 

 and subsequent treatment for 9 months failed to check the discharge 

 and bring about healing. Allantoin solution was then used and 

 brought about a cessation of the purulent discharge and complete 

 heaUng in 2 months. 



Diabetic ulcers of the foot are very unpleasant and difTicult condi- 

 tions to treat, especially when the patient has to continue actively on 

 his feet. Such ulcers frequently resist healing despite the best of 

 treatment. With such a background of failure to heal, an appUcation 

 of allantoin ointment inside a protective pad enabled a patient to be 

 treated without going to bed and resulted in satisfactory healing. 



A man with chronic discharging X-ray burns of the foot had tried 

 many lands of treatment without avail, and for several years walked 

 with the aid of crutches. After using allantoin solution for 2 months, 

 he was so far recovered that he discarded crutches and used only a 

 cane. Further treatment during the next few months enabled him 

 to walk normally without support. 



Following an operation for removal of a kidney from a woman, the 

 incision, which had partially healed, broke down with considerable 

 discharge, odor, and pain, and remained resistant to all types of treat- 

 ment for 3 weeks. Daily packing of the wound with allantoin solution 

 brought about considerable rehef and complete healing within 10 days. 



It is now nearl}' 4 3'ears since allantoin was first used clinically in the 

 United States. In that time no report appears to have been made of 



