The therapeutic value of formic acid in diphtheria in i. cardiac failure; ii. paralysis; iii. albuminuria

Abstract

It is difficult not to conclude that results, such as these, are sufficiently successful as to at least warrant a thorough and prolonged trial.It may be urged that the influence of antitoxin has not been given the prominence due to it, but has purposely been disregarded as being in the same proportion for the Control Cases.Treatment would, therefore, appear to resolve itself into:-1. Adequate and early doses of Antitoxin;2. Rest in proportion to the severity of the case;3. Gradual and proportionate stimulation by Non -blood- pressure raising drugs;4. The use of Formic Acid and the Formates;and until proof positive negatives it, that, with such results, a thorough trial of such lines of treatment must be made at the expense of the older treatment which relied for stimulation solely on an increase of blood pressure, while it would seem to be the case that Formic Acid and the Formates, by their influence on every complication of importance in diphtheria, render them, in that disease, drugs of the greatest importance.