Terramycin in the treatment of trachoma.

Abstract

The wide range of activity of terramycin, whose action is so remarkable on the principal gram positive and gram negative bacteria, the rickettsias and certain viruses, has led various physicians to test this drug in the treatment of trachoma. We are grateful to Dr. Winkelstein, STEM, Public Health Department, for providing a sufficient amount of this new antibiotic for experimentation, and we have tested its effects on a group of patients infected with florid trachoma in the more active stages of the disease and trachoma with complications. Our methods were similar to those used in previous tests with chaulmoogra oil, penicillin and aureomycin, which consist of applying the medicine to the granulations after abrasion by a curettage deep enough to cause bleeding. Materials. We are indebted to the Pfizer Laboratories of New York for making available an ointment of 1:1,000 crystalline-terramycin chlorohydrate in suspension in a petrolatum base, and an aqueous collyrium of crystalline-terramycin chlorohydrate with sodium borate and sodium chlorite made up at the time of use.