On the use of salvarsan in the treatment of syphilis / by Alexander Fleming and L. Colebrook.

  • Alexander Fleming
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the use of salvarsan in the treatment of syphilis / by Alexander Fleming and L. Colebrook. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/16 page 13
    syphilitic manifestations, the original ulcer all the time diminishing in size. Another intramuscular injection did not clear up the lesions, but after 0°4 grm. intravenously all the lesions rapidly disappeared, and had not recurred four months later. In another case where there was ulceration of the nasal septum, the only effect of an injection of 0'5 grm. into the buttock, apart from the pain which it caused to the patient, was that the ulcerative process continued with greater activity. In this case also a second dose was given intra- venously, with the result that the condition improved very markedly, the ulcerative process was stopped, and healing was complete. The effect of the drug on the Wassermann reaction seems fo be variable. In some of the cases where the lesions all cleared up the reaction became negative in a time varying from 2 to 12 weeks after the injection, but in one or two of those cases in which it disappeared it subsequently came back. In other cases the reaction continued to be positive months after the injection. It is important that this should be remembered in view of the very widely circulated state- ments that one dose of the drug is sufficient to cure syphilis, a belief which very many of the patients seem to have acquired. We append a summary of the cases treated, stating in each case the result of the last observation made as regards the clinical condition of the patient and the Wassermann reaction. Whether the new drug will displace mercury in the treat- ment of syphilis remains to be seen, and we do not venture to express any opinion on this subject. It, however, cer- tainly has a remarkable effect in causing the lesions to disappear, and especially is this seen in some cases which have resisted mercurial treatment. Much has been made of the dangers inherent in the administration of the drug, but so far as we have gone we have not seen the slightest trace of the evil effects which have been written about in any case which has been injected intravenously. In conclusion, we would like to thank our chief, Sir Almroth Wright, for the great help he has given us in carrying out the work in his wards at St. Mary’s Hospital.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3