The use of phthalylsulfathiazole (sulfathalidine) in colonic surgery

IN 1941, Poth and Knotts1 introduced succinylsulfathiazole (sulfasuxidine) as an intestinal antiseptic and bacteriostatic agent. It has proved especially valuable as an adjunct to surgery of the large bowel, as well as in the treatment of certain medical conditions. A further improvement was made in this field with the discovery of phthalylsulfathiazole (sulfathalidine§) by Poth and Ross2 in 1943. This new drug has the advantage of having twice the bacteriostatic activity of succinylsulfathiazole but requiring only half to one third of its dosage. In addition, the drug has not given rise to any toxic reactions such as have occasionally . . .