On July 12, 1949, Staff Sergeant W. J. M. reported to the dispensary, Station Hospital, Randolph Field, Texas, in extreme distress; he was able to blurt out that he had been bitten by ants. His entire body was covered with an urticarial rash; his eyes were swollen nearly shut; he was clawing frantically at his chest, arms and neck, and his breathing was stertorous and accompanied by a frothy, mucous expectoration from the mouth. He was cyanotic and appeared to be on the verge of shock.
The patient was given 0.4 mg. of epinephrine; he was stripped and showered to remove ants which were on the upper part of the arm, and he was then given oxygen. The chest was full of moist rales, and preparations were made to perform a tracheotomy. However, his breathing became less labored and he was given 100 mg. tripelennamine hydrochloride (pyribenzamine hydrochloride®) orally. Relief