Sensitivity to repository penicillins.

London Introduction Some side-reactions to penicillin have been observed since the antibiotic first came into general use during the closing stages of the second world war. Commonly, the reactions are of a sensitivity type ranging from severe (sometimes fatal) anaphylaxis, to serum sickness-type reactions with angioneurotic oedema, pains in the muscles, fluid in the joints, and urticaria. Others consist of skin reactions ranging from erythema simplex and multiforme to frank dermatitis. Pre-existing fungal eruptions may occasionally flare and tri-chophytid lesions may arise. There is also a risk of dermatitis in those who handle the drug. Given orally, there is the added possibility of gastro-intestinal reactions with sore mouth, black tongue, occasionally indigestion, nausea and vomiting, enteritis, and rectal soreness and irritation. These effects may arise from partial sterilization of the bowel leading to inefficient synthesis of vitamin B, and from the overgrowth of other organisms, including fungi, in the bacterial vacuum so created. Of other effects reported, Batchelor, Home, and Rogerson (1951) had eight cases of maniacal