Abstract
Summary
1. The single intravenous dose of penicillin sodium salt required to produce disappearance of Treponema pallidum in experimental rabbit syphilis is 33,000-47,000 units/kg. The same effect can be obtained with about 16,000 units/kg if the drug is administered repeatedly over a period of 72 hours in doses of approximately 4,000 units/kg. The latter dose was found sufficient to produce healing of primary lesions in 10-15 days.
2. The minimal effective dose of penicillin sodium salt in Borrelia novyi infections of mice was found to be 25,000 units/kg mouse; doses of 200,000 units/kg and more might be considered as curative.
3. No definite statement as to the sterilizing potency of penicillin in spirochetal infections can be made at the present moment.
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