Evening star., 1944-07-16
but tie number vas tar lower than
might have been expected.

DIV kke n0IU1ef VUb {kT l0Wel k1A0
might have been expected.
Lswsrs Fatality Rata.
TN the case Or staphylococcus In
fections, or blood poisoning. In this
series. penicillin lowered the IA
tality rate from % per cent to be-
tween Is and 40 per cent, and many
l0f those who died were terminal
cases-that iS, persons whose infec-
tion was complication Of some
long, standing disease.
I'm the case Of gonorrhea infec-H
tions. the evidence is that penicillin
can cure 80 per cent OF cases in "a
hours
Long before penicillin reached
anything like large-scale produc-
ton, scientists felt 1t was probably
the hottest thing ever to come
within medicines ken.
Only limited trials were possible
with the scant supplies OF early
days, but penicillin worked remark
able cures where sulfa drugs had
failed.
Deadly staphylococci, which cause
gas gangrene In wounds; certain
pneumonia germs, organisms that
cause carbuncles and boils, germs
Of meningitis and "strep" sore
throat. infections OF childbirth-all
these were among the victims of the
magic yellow-or powder called
penicillin.
Wounds Respond Speedily.
Soldiers were suffering from
wounds SO gangrenous that doctors
didn't dare remove the battlefield
debris that had been driven into
them. They were cleared of infec-
tions that had resisted all treat
ments for months.
Small quantities became available
In those early days for research
clinical use in a number of civilian
hospitals selected by the Medical
Research Committee OF the United
States Once Of Scientific Research
and Development. Frantic appeals
started coming from all over the
country to DR.. Keefer, who was
charged by the National Research
Council with apportioning the mea-
ger supply.
DR.. Keefer had to act like a med
ical Solomon" and often refused
penicillin In cases where research
had shown the drug to be inefYec-
tive. Wonder drug though 1t is,
penicillin has 80 far proved power
less against many Ills, such as tuber-
culosis. influenza, virus pneumonia
typhoid fever, cancer-and the COM
mon cold.
Victories Pile Up.
The dispatch Of precious supplies
Of the drug by airplane, stories OF
penicillin being sped to q childs
bedside under police escort. sirens
screaming, We'd with war news.
Meanwhile pencillins victories
piled up.
Dramatic results were achieved in
early cases of syphilis. 1t is still too
early to define its exact role in
treating this disease, but indications
In more than 200 cases are 50
promising that the United States
Public Health Service is undertaking
large-scale studies all over the
country.
Cures were reported of brain alb
cesses occurring as complications Of
other infection, q condition often
fatal. One of these was a soldier at
Walter Reed Hospital of whom a
surgeon said:
I'm just as certain that man will
die as though he were lying in his
cofiin!'
Doctors Are -Amased."
! Doctors, whose language In med
ical reports has always been guarded
and conservative, began using ad-
jectives like amazing" "spectacu-
lar" brilliant"
Dr.. Keefer Is one. of these. So is
DR.. A. Newton Richards. chairman
Of the once Of Scientific Research
and Developments Committee on
Medical Research.
DR.. Richards says studies toward
making the drug artificially are
progressing" Pure penicillin has
been recovered from the mold which
is the starting point In production
un the commercial process penicil-
lin Is first produced in an acid form
and then Is combined with sodium
or calcium to produce SALT
Before the crystalline form of
penicillin was isolated" says DR..
Richards. I'VE were working in dark
ness IS far as working toward syn
thesis Is concerned.
Now we're working in the tM-
light"
Even when penicillin can be sold
over the counter on prescription, pa
tients will not be able to take a
couple OF capsules in . glass Of
water.
Gastric juices destroy penicillin.
It must be injected or placed on a
surface, such aS in war wound