THE USE OF PENICILLIN IN ACUTE SORE THROAT

The treatment of acute follicular and exudative tonsillitis and pharyngitis continues to be a problem despite the advent of the sulfonamide drugs. On the basis of bacteriologic studies it is considered that the usual causative agent is a hemolytic streptococcus.1Recently, after a study of the bacteriology in 116 cases with exudate in the pharynx or on the tonsils, Dingle and his associates concluded that approximately 25 per cent of the cases were definitely caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci. In 75 per cent of the cases they put the cause down as unknown.2In any event it is generally accepted that a hemolytic streptococcus is implicated in a large number of cases of acute sore throat. Since the complications of acute sore throat are frequent and often serious, the availability of a therapeutic measure that would obtain rapid and complete cure, and without relapses, is greatly to be desired.