The prophylactic use of streptokinase opens a new field in surgery. Extensive wounds may be repaired, with the resultant edema being a fraction of that ordinarily encountered. The use of streptokinase buccally in the treatment of infections must be considered an adjunct to thoughtful and competent surgical management. This substance is not a substitute for careful surgical treatment, but the ingenuity of the surgeon will help to achieve maximal beneficial effects. The mechanism initiated by streptokinase by which inflammation and edema are reversed may permit the passage of bacteria from the site of infection to the rest of the body. It is mandatory, therefore, that the patients with an infection or suspected of having an infection be treated with an anti-bacterial drug concurrently with the streptokinase.