PENICILLIN SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 153, 25 March 1944, Page 6

PENICILLIN SUPPLY

Limited Quantity In New Zealand USE IN HOSPITALS A limited quantity <jf penicillin is now in* New Zealand. The Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, said yesterday that immediately penicillin became available it was used for the treatment of a few urgent cases, and now that a further supply had arrived the larger public hospitals had been notified that they 'should send particulars of any suitable patients to whom the drug might be of great advantage. “The Government,” said Air. Nordmever “has been in close contact lor some time with the authorities overseas who are responsible for the manufacture and control of penicillin and has made representations to obtain it tor New Zealand. , . . “The manufacture of penicillin is a difficult and costly process, and the small quantities hitherto available have been largely confined to treatment of members of the Armed Forces and to treatment ol eases of an acute character where penicillin offered the best hope of recovery. The substance has not so far been synthetically produced, and till this is feasible, or till the process of manufacture can be greatly simplified, it seems unlikely that it will be generally available to more than a very small percentage of patients who might be expected to benefit from it. “Contrary to popular belief, penicillin is not a cure-all. There are a considerable number of diseases on which it has no effect whatever anil others which can ns well be treated by the sulphomimide drugs, but there are a few infectious, particularly those of an acute nature, iu which penicillin treatment effects a dramatic cure after the sulphonamides have failed.”

FIRST USE MADE

Bed-Ridden Nelson Boy

Penicillin has been used, for the_.first time in New Zealand, on Roger Kingsford, aged 18, who in five years’ suffering from osteomyelitis and staphylococcal septicaemia has had 20 operations and received 30 blood transfusions, while his life has many times hung in the balance. He is the holder of the Cornwall Boy Scout award in recognition of the courage he has displayed throughout his long illness, during which he has lost, his right leg and has been threatened with the loss of other limbs. He is the sou of Air. and Airs. A. R. Kingsford, Nelson. The treatment with penicillin was administered in the Nelson Public Hospital by the medical superintendent, Dr. B. H. Clarke. There was an immediate improvement, but in a long-standing infection like that of this patient the permanent effects may not be apparent for some time. The ideal case for treatment is understood to be one in the first stages of acute infection. This stage Roger Kingsford went through five years ago. Osteomyelitis is a severe bone infection which is difficult to eliminate. Dr. P. P. Lynch, pathologist and consultant in pathology to the Wellington Public Hospital, and Dr. L. C. AlcNickle, Inspector of Hospitals, were deputed by the Government to take an interest, on behalf of the Department of Health, in the application of the drug. A kick on an ankle while playing football five years ago' brought about Roger Kingsford’s disease. He was then a Nelson Central School pupil. Osteomyelitis developed and he became bedridden. A boy scout, with patrol leader rank, he showed great fortitude in his illness and, in scout law, “remained cheerful in all circumstances.” His courage brought the Cornwall award—the scouts’ V.O. When his father heard of penicillin he tried to get some for his son. A request on his behalf was sent to England a year ago by Air. Atmore, ALP., and the Prime Alinister, Air. Fraser, but none could be released for civilian use. The United States was tried and when all efforts seemed unavailing a friend of Air. Kingsford suggested a new approach through an acquaintance in Australia. Eventually the Australian Government contacted and it agreed to do all it could to help. Air. Fraser made an official request and by an all-air journey the Penicillin was in Nelson 24 hours after this request was received in Australia.

AUCKLAND PATIENTS Man And Two Women Treated (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUOKLAND. Alarch 24. The case treated with penicillin at Nelson is not the first of its kind in the Dominion. A young New Zealand naval rating who was a patient in the Auckland Hospital with empyema, or pusforming infection in the pleural sac enclosing the lung, had the new drug administered to him between February 16 and 19. He now appears to be well on the way to recovery, though it is not possible to say that the infection has permanently cleared up. Two women patients have since been trea.ted with penicillin in Auckland, but it is too early yet to say anything definite about the results. One case is very similar to that of the Nelson youth. The doctor in charge of the empyema case said penicillin was tried because the disease as a rule did not yield to the older' methods ot treatment and because infection in this case was due to an unusual fungoid organism known as actinomycosis. The young man was likely to become a chronic sufferer, but. fortunately for him a supply of penicillin happened to be available in Auckland. He was given considerable quantities by intramuscular injection at intervals of three hours, and, as the literature on the subject predicted, there were no toxic or other secondary effects whatever. Proof was' also obtained that the drug was quickly eliminated from the system. The patient was now up and about. He had no pain or abnormal temperature and had gained several pounds in weight.