The Treatment of Kala Azar in Children.

The efficacy of antimony in the treatment of kala azar was established before the period covered by these observations. China gave antimony to the world2, but the honour of its successful introduction and application in the treatment of kala azar belongs chiefly to Napier and to Brahmachari of India. The compounds of antimony now in use for the treatment of kala azar are direct results of the careful clinical observations made by these two workers. It is indeed an inspiring story to follow the clinicians and chemists co-operating to eliminate one difficulty after another; until in 1928 Napier3 could say: ' Thirteen years ago the death rate in kala azar was said to be 95 per cent., whereas now, at whatever stage of the disease the patients first come under treatment, the recovery rate should be at least 95 per cent.' Our own small series of cases illustrates well the strides which have been made since the introduction of tartar emetic for the treatment of kala azar.