The Treatment of Intestinal Tuberculosis

1) Twenty-four cases of intestinal tuberculosis have been treated by streptomycin with generally good results, but variable according to the anatomic form of lesions.

2) The ulcerous diffuse forms, the isolated ileo-caecal and rectal lesions, respond to the antibiotic.

3) In the stenosis form in the small intestine, streptomycin constitutes a good preoperatory treatment and auxiliary, but does not prevent radical intervention.

4)"Primitive" intestinal tuberculosis seems to be influenced favorably by the antibiotic.

5) Since the use of antibiotics, the frequency of intestinal tuberculosis has diminished considerably in France.

6) As compared to para-aminosalicylic acid and to amithiozone, the action of which seems to be slower and not so well tolerated, streptomycin appears to deserve first place.

7) Thanks to streptomycin, the influence of intestinal tuberculosis on pulmonary lesions of phthisical persons loses its dreadful meaning of aggravation and enlarges the limits of collapse therapy.