Tridione compared with malidone in the treatment of petit mal.

Tridione (3,5,5,-trimethyloxazolidine-2 4dione) has been extensively used in the treatment of petit mal for five years, and its success in more than 60% of cases has been well established. Its dangers and limitations are also well recognized (Richards and Everett, 1944; Lennox, 1947). During the past two years 25 men between the ages of 17 and 52 who suffered from frequent petit mal, and 15 of whom had previously been treated with tridione, were given a similar substance, namely " malidone " (3-allyl-5-methyloxazolidine2: 4-dione), in an attempt to compare the relative merits of the two drugs. The average dosage was one capsule (0-3 g.) thrice daily. The results are compared with those obtained in a previous series of 35 cases treated with tridione (Table I).