Large Dosis Therapy of Streptomycin in Experimental Plague

Abstract

The therapeutic effect of streptomycin against plague was experimentally testified by Meyer and other workers. Herbert succeeded to prevent the development of the disease by single intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg SM, in 80% of mice inoculated with plague bacilli prior to the therapy. With over 4 mg dosis the disease was prevented by the author in 100% of mice. Furthermore, following Herbert, 800 ry was administered in interval of 12 hours for 3 1/2 days immediately after the subcutaneous inoculation of mice with plague bacilli The result approximated that of Herbert, i.e. 95.2% preventive effect in total dosis of 5.6 mg. On the other hand, single administration of four, five or six milligram, demonstrated 100% effectiveness, a result, which eloquently indicates the benefit of large dosis therapy. Finally, mice were divided into 7 groups which were given SM in 3, 6, 9, 12, 21 and 24 hours, respectively after the inoculation of mice with plague bacilli. The survival rate of mice was in the following order ; 100, 75, 80, 75, 95, 80, and 80%. That is to say, only the therapy initiated immediately after the inoculation proved 100% effective.