ANTIBACTERIAL ACTION OF A REACTION PRODUCT OF CYSTEINE AND IRON: III. IN VIVO ACTION ON PNEUMOCOCCUS INFECTION IN MICE
A colloidal sulphur preparation, formed by autoclaving a dilute solution of cysteine and ferric ammonium citrate, was shown to have no toxicity for mice after eleven 1-mgm. intravenous doses on alternate days. Single doses up to 2 mgm. subcutaneously were not toxic but larger doses by this route produced necrosis. A single 1-mgm. dose of the preparation given to mice intravenously afforded no protection against a lethal dose of Diplococcus pneumoniae Type III when given simultaneously. However, groups of mice given a 1-mgm. intravenous dose of the complex and challenged with a lethal dose of pneumococcus at intervals up to 168 hr. after the therapy show no protection for the first 24 hr. following the therapy, increasing protection from 24 to 78 hr., complete protection at 78 hr., and decreasing protection from 78 to 168 hr.