Two Further Cases of Curling's Ulcer in Major Burns in Children

Abstract

DICAL JOURNAL possible to be more precise than to classify the thera- peutic effect of a drug as satisfactory, fair, or poor. SummaryThe relative therapeutic value of orphenadrine and UK.738 was studied by means of a double-blind trial.Orphenadrine 100 mg.thrice daily produced satisfactory results in 15 out of 24 patients, and thus was much more effective than UK.738 4 mg.thrice daily.Simple quantitative data were collected relating to strength of grip, range of active and passive movement of the neck, and the ability to write.It was shown that such quantitative tests and other objective evidence can be of value in assessing the therapeutic value of drugs used in Parkinsonism.It was shown that after oral administration of orphenadrine peak activity occurred in about two hours whereas peak activity due to benzhexol occurred in two to three hours.It was not possible to demonstrate clearly a similar peak of activity for UK.738.It follows that when the relative merits of drugs are being determined by objective testing due regard should be paid to the phase of maximal activity, otherwise the findings will not be comparable.Fallacious results are also attributable to failure to appreciate the far-reaching effects of emotional upsets in these patients; and their lack of practice in experimental procedures also makes for unreliable data.I am indebted to Prmfessor S. Alstead for allowing me to study patients under his care, for his guidance, and for his helpful criticism of the manuscript.My thanks are due to Dr. J. C. Brocklehurst, who was closely associated with me in this work, for his help and advice.I am also indebted to Sister E. Biggin and Sister M. Quigley and their staff for their willing co-operation; to the pharmacists for supervising the issue of the drugs in accordance with the scheme for a double-blind clinical trial; to Mr. P. Waldie