This symposium represents a joint investigation of the treatment of otorhinolaryngological complications from the larger departments and clinics of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Material consisted of the records of 421 patients who were treated with penicillin, of which 182 (45%) were submitted to bacteriological examination. Bacteriological data based on cultures from the primary focus were available in 16%, and from secondary complications in 19% of the cases.
The principal subdivisions in this symposium deal with bacteriological problems, and with the penicillin treatment of meningitis, tympanogenic labyrinthitis, otogenous and rhinogenous cerebral abscesses, petrositis, osteomyelitis, tonsillogenic and otogenic thrombophlebitis, and sepsis. Allergy and incidental toxic effects are covered in the final chapter. Each chapter contains an excellent résumé of the literature, in addition to analyses of the material studied by the authors.
There is such a wealth of information in this pamphlet that a summary could not do justice to the contribution.