This argument is well-presented, but not thoroughly well-reasoned. By making a comparison of one group of patients who had muscle injuries being treated by a sports medicine doctor with antibiotics and shorter recuperation time, with another group of patients being treated by a general physician doctor with sugar pills instead of antibiotics and therefore no reduced recuperation time, the argument for taking antibiotics as part of the treatment in order to treat the secondary infections of muscle strain seems logical.
However, the arguer fails to establish the causal relationship between secondary infections of muscle strain and antibiotics. It is highly possible that the secondary infections can be well treated by other anti-infect drugs, and the patients diagnosed with muscle strain can take some medicine to prevent themselves from being infected secondarily and at the same time, the patients should do some exercises to strengthen their body and pay much attention to their diet, which can include some healthy food, green vegetables, for example, while do not eat too much meat or greasy food. It is reasonable, therefore, all of above methods may be good for muscle strain patients and help them keep from healing quickly after severe muscle strain.
Further, the arguer does not provide enough information about the patients of the two groups, such as age, sex and other physical characters. Perhaps, the patients in the first group are younger than those in the second group. They may have much strong immune system and have such a good ability to antagonize the bacteria which can cause the secondary infection. Otherwise, patients in the other group may be weaker and cannot antagonize the bacteria. Therefore, there may be other factors not antibiotic which can effect the recuperation time reduced in the first group. In addition, are the ability and experience that the two doctors have on the same level? Dr. Newland who specializes in sports medicine might be more familiar with the muscle strain which always happens to sportsman than Dr. Alton who is just a general physician. So, the patients in the first group may be acquired better and more professional therapy that helps them recuperate quickly. It appears reasonable, for the arguer to focus on information above than to taking antibiotic.
It is not said clearly but indicated that the arguer assume that the sugar pills have no effect on the patients. But there are no evidence to show that sugar does not work on patients. Sugar may interfere with the absorbability of the other drugs took by the patients. Meanwhile, granted that taking antibiotics can shorten the recuperation times in average, we cannot ensure that it is necessary for all the patients who suffer muscle strain to take antibiotics. Maybe some patients are sensitive to antibiotic and have some side effects after taking them. So, the doctor should treat the patients in different methods according to their own conditions.
In conclusion, to persuade me that all patients with muscle strain are advised to take antibiotics during treatment, the arguer must supply a scientific data which can evident that under the same conditions--the same doctors, same conditions of patients, same background--antibiotics can make patients recuperate quickly.
