Abstract
None of the filaricidal drugs appearing at present are superior to arsenicals as adult-filaricidals. With the aim of decreseing the volume of arsenical without diminishing its effect, experiments were conducted by injecting dichlorophenarsine hydrochloride in amounts of 0.75 mg As/kg. The heretofore accepted dose had been 1.0 mg As/kg. It was found that difference in effectiveness was very little. The findings were as follows:
(1) Even when the dose of arsenical was decreased there was no appreciable difference in the filaricidal effect.Injections with 0.75mg As/kgover two consecutive days showed a considerably high filaricidal effect (81%) in mild cases and a marked decrease in filariae in severe cases.
(2) Occurrence of ill effects from arsenical injection was nil when injection was given over two consecutive days in doses of 0.75 mg As/kg.
(3) At the same total dose of injection (3.0 and 2.0 mg As/kg), the filaricidal effect decreased when administered over a number of times with small doses or when intervals between injections prolonged.
(4) In the case of injection of 0.75 mg As/kg over two consecutive days no filaricidal effect could be seen on immature worms. Accordingly, this dosage should be administered after worms have reached maturity.
