1 Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98105
2 Professor and Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98105
Dr. Yerushalmy points out the excess mortality in the isoniazid pupulation in two trials: contacts of new cases and patients in mental hospitals. He failed to mention that the Public Health Service has conducted five other isoniazid prophylaxis trials (Table I). In the six trials listed, excluding the one in institutions, the isoniazid groups had more deaths in three trials, the placebo group had more deaths in two trials, and in one trial the number of deaths in each group was equal.