456 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1945 



venous therapy. For intramuscular injection the total volume of indi- 

 vidual injections should be small, i. e., 5,000 units per cc. of saline; 

 for topical application, solutions, in salt solution of 250 units per cc, 

 with the volume increased to 500 units per cc. where resistant or intense 

 infections appear. The powdered form is irritating to wound sur- 

 faces and should not be used. 



Romansky and Rittman reported on the use of a sterile mixture of 

 4 percent beeswax in peanut oil as a base for penicillin. This prolongs 

 and increases absorption, maintaining penicillin levels for as long as 

 8 hours. Greater economy and effectiveness may be attained by such 

 measures if they prove practical. Cholesterol is also used. 



There are three common methods of administration for penicillin : 

 intravenous, intramuscular, and topical. Subcutaneous injections are 

 painful and should be avoided. Repeated intramuscular injection may 

 be tolerated less well than repeated or constant intravenous injections, 

 but frequently the intramuscular route is the method of choice. 



The dosage of penicillin varies from one condition to another, and 

 depending upon the patient. The objective is to bring the infection 

 under control as quickly as possible. 



PROCESSES 



The production of penicillin by several basic processes has been 

 engaged in by over a score of industrial firms. In all these, pure cul- 

 turing and aseptic handling is essential. Where contamination occurs 

 the penicillium fails to produce penicillin. From seed-culture stage 

 to large-volume production, either by flasks or deep-tank method, is 

 a step which has tasked the ability of the entire industry. The details 

 of the processes vary from one process to another and need not be 

 discussed here. Suffice to say that the final product is a sterile, dry, 

 yellowish powder. It is a relatively pure product, marketed for use as 

 the sodium or calcium salt. Pure penicillin is a white crystalline 

 substance, and does not require refrigeration. 



POTENCY 



The present penicillin product has a potency of more than 1,200 

 Oxford units per milligram, and it is rapidly approaching chemical 

 purity, the potency for which has recently been agreed upon, at the 

 meeting of international experts on penicillin in London under League 

 of Nations sponsorship, as 1,666 Oxford units per milligram. It has 

 been observed that the purer the product the less likelihood of reac- 

 tions, and while some of the pure salt has been prepared, mostly for 

 use as a reference standard, clinical trial has not yet determined 

 whether any therapeutic value is lost in the complete purification 



