Wherever there are areas of increased proliferation of cells, the concentration of the SH, or sulfhydryl, group is increased. Thus in tumor tissue the concentration of glutathione is high, as shown by Voegtlin and Thompson,1 Lecloux, Vivario and Firket2 and Baker.3 Hammett4 demonstrated that additions of sulfhydryl substances increased the proliferation of certain roots. According to Hammett and Reimann,5 proliferation of cells in the skin is accelerated by means of wet dressings containing compounds of sulfhydryl. Lebensohn,6 who used thiocresol in traumatic corneal ulcers in rabbits, found that epithelialization occurred so rapidly normally that a comparison could not be made.
This report is concerned with the effect of cysteine hydrochloride6a on the eye of rabbits and the clinical application suggested from the results. Powdered cysteine hydrochloride was dusted into the conjunctival sac of rabbits daily. This produced reddening of the conjunctiva