PENICILLIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26077, 14 February 1946, Page 6

PENICILLIN

USE OF FAMOUS DRUG DISCUSSED BY MEDICAL CONFERENCE (PA.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. This morning’s session of the B.M.A. conference was devoted to a discussion on penicillin. The speakers were Sir Stanton Hicks, Drs R. Kirk, H. W. Wilson, Falconer, Brown, and Mr E. I. A. Macdonald. The speakers were in general agreement that the drug promisetl to be of the utmost help in curing a wide variety of diseases, but expressed caution in that sufficient evidence had not yet been gained to allow of definite assertions as to its efficiency. Sir Stanton Hicks warned members to expect variability in the results of the treatment of individuals, and Dr Kirk said penicillin had not been used by physcians to the extent, perhaps, that the public desired. This was largely due to the control which previously existed over the drug, and the somewhat difficult methods of application. The use of penicillin had been on a scientific basis from the beginning, and the drug had not .been available merely for the asking. It was necessary that anyone using penicillin should know its characteristics. In Dunedin, for instance, there had been a public demand for bronchitis cases to be treated with penicillin, following some misjudged publicity as to its success in such cases. Actually the drug was of no use in treating bronchitis except in certain circumstances. The effect of penicillin on venereal diseases was described by Dr Falconer Brown: “Penicillin is an outstanding treatment for gonorrhoea, and will become routine treatment,” he said. “ Results have been spectacular, with only a small percentage of failures. The drug has also proved very effective in treating syphilis cases, and it seems likely that it will eventually replace arsenical drugs.” The speaker warned that it would take five or more years to show whether the cures were permanent.