Aureomycin in the treatment of heartwater

Abstract

1. The value of aureomycin in the treatment of heartwater has been established. It is considerably more effective than the sulphonamides. 2. The minimal therapeutic dose for sheep appears to be 2•5 mg. per lb. administered intravenously either as a single dose or in divided doses at intervals of 24 hours. 3. Doses smaller than the curative dose have a marked effect upon the course of the disease. 4. In cattle even advanced cases have responded promptly to administration of 2 to 2•5 mg. per lb. It was possible that doses as small as 1 mg. per lb. were effective. 5. Administered in the incubation stage of the disease in amounts approximately double the curative dose it had a marked effect upon the subsequent course of the disease. 6. Prophylactic or curative administration in doses up to 20 mg. per lb. did not interfere with immunity production. 7. Aureomycin alone or in combination with a sulphonamide is suggested at present as the drug of choice for treatment, or together with live virus for immunization. This work was facilitated by the supply in very generous quantities of aureomycin hydrochloride with sodium glycinate by the Director, Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, N.Y., U.S.A., to whom we wish to take this opportunity of expressing our indebtedness.