Current Comment

TREATMENT OF PNEUMONIA  So much has been published concerning the newer methods of treating pneumonia that it is often difficult to determine what is a practical procedure. Recently, however, the Maryland State Department of Health, through its Pneumonia Control Committee, has released its recommendations to the profession. The first recommendation is that every effort be made to obtain sputum for typing at each visit, unless the type of infecting pneumococcus has already been determined. Suitable containers for collecting specimens are provided by the board and specimens should be sent to county or state laboratories as soon as obtained. Sulfapyridine therapy should be begun as soon as the diagnosis of pneumonia is made. The initial dose for an adult (any patient over 14) should be 60 grains (4 Gm.) followed by 15 grains (1 Gm.) every four hours until the temperature has been normal for forty-eight hours; thereafter 15 grains is