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51.The following appeared in a medical newsletter.

"Doctors have long suspected that secondary infections may keep some patients from healing quickly after severe muscle strain. This hypothesis has now been proved by preliminary results of a study of two groups of patients. The first group of patients, all being treated for muscle injuries by Dr. Newland, a doctor who specializes in sports medicine, took antibiotics regularly throughout their treatment. Their recuperation time was, on average, 40 percent quicker than typically expected. Patients in the second group, all being treated by Dr. Alton, a general physician, were given sugar pills, although the patients believed they were taking antibiotics. Their average recuperation time was not significantly reduced. Therefore, all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment."


The author of this newsletter concludes a relationship between muscle strain and secondary infections by citing the study mentioned above, but flaws can be found after well considered. The study is unpersuasive to show the relationship.

First of all, the result "forty percent quicker than typically expected" is vague. The problem is that it compared with a expected time. Since no one can know the exact time when patients can recover, the expected time is not accurate, let alone using it to make a comparison. May be the time which the doctor expected is much sooner or later than the real time patients get recovered. It is possible that "forty percent quicker" can be forty percent later in the reality.

In addition, conditions are various from each patient. The author does not mention which patients are chosen for the study. Are those patients have similar muscle strain? Are their expected times of recuperation close? Are they in the same age bucket? Are they males or females? How many times did they injure before? Why did they injure? Until all the questions above are answered, it can be decided whether the patients are suitable for the study.

Finally, the recuperation time of two groups may be different because they are treated by different doctors. Every doctor has his/her own way to treat different illnesses, so patients are treated differently by different doctors even they have very similar conditions. May be Dr. Newland    pursue quick recuperation time for patients while Dr. Alton concentrate on the comfort of the patients.

In sum, the argument is lack of convincing evidence to certify the relationship between muscle strain and secondary infections.