In the few years since streptomycin was discovered and made available, it has already become established as an important agent in the treatment of many diseases.1 Much enthusiasm has been evoked by the demonstration of its effectiveness in many hitherto refractory tuberculous lesions. Extensive resources have been utilized in its investigation, and much has been learned about it, but much still remains to be investigated.
Numerous other antibiotics besides penicillin and streptomycin have appeared promising from in vitro tests, but proved to be too toxic or feeble in animal experimentation. A few are undergoing trial, but none yet available have warranted clinical recommendation for tuberculosis. Many chemical agents have been found tuberculostatic, or tuberculocidal in vitro; some have shown promise in animal experiments, and several, including promin® (sodium p,-p'-diaminodiphenylsulfone-N,N'didextrose sulfonate), promizole® (4,2'-diamino-diphenyl-5'-thiazole sulfone) diasone® (disodium-formaldehyde-sulfoxylate-diamino-diphenyl-sul fone) and para-aminosalicylic acid, are being studied in patients,