Failure of Antibiotics in Experimental Rabies

Abstract

As chloromycetin has shown promising results in various virus infections in man, it was decided to investigate its activity against experimentally induced rabies. Two rabbits were inoculated intracerebrally with the strain of fixed virus previously described by Kirk inNature¹. The rabbits received respectively 100 and 200 mgm. of chloromycetin per kilo daily, given in three equally divided doses by mouth. As controls three rabbits were used; two received 20,000 units penicillin in procaine oil per kilo daily, and the third 40 mgm. of streptomycin per kilo daily in two equally divided doses by intra-muscular injection. Therapy was started in all cases twenty-four hours before inoculation. All five rabbits died on the fifth day and no change in the incubation period or manner of death could be detected.