Use of Penotrane in Ophthalmology. Treatment of Recurrent Staphylococcal Lesions and Blepharo-conjunctivitis.

IN the treatment of chronic staphylococcal blepharo-conjunctivitis and of recurrent styes experience has shown that there has been a chemotherapeutic hiatus between conventional therapy with antibiotics and recourse to staphylococcal vaccines, which provide a time-consuming, though frequently effective, treatment. The claims made for a number of antiseptics were therefore considered, and it was felt that the reported properties of phenylmercuric dinaphthylmethane disulphonate (hydrargaphen; Penotrane) would be worth examining. Penotrane, in addition to activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, has powerful activity against pathogenic fungi (Goldberg, Shapero, and Wilder, 1950 a and b; Haler, 1957; Tiessen, 1957). It penetrates living tissue, and is therefore effective in the region of the hair follicles of the lashes (Goldberg and others, 1950 b). It is colourless and non-staining-virtually essential requirements for topical use in the eye. It is not a substance against which bacterial resistance develops, and it does not appear to give rise to skin sensitivity, such as may be encountered with the antibiotics (Tiessen, 1957).