DEATH AFTER SALVARSAN TREATMENT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2117, 7 April 1914, Page 5

DEATH AFTER SALVARSAN TREATMENT

IS THE DRUG DANGEROUS?

By Telegraph—Press Aeeooiation— Copyright "Timos" and Sydnoy "Sun" Sorvlcce. London, April 6. At tho inquest on a clark who died from arsenical poisoning after salvarsah treatment, Dr. Frederick Womaok Kavo evidence that there had been only 150 deaths duo to salvarsan throughout tho world. •" There was such a thing as idiosyncrasy in connection with salvarsaii, but it rarely occurred. This was undoubtedly such a case. When tho blood was abnormal it rendered salvarsan more than usually soluble, tho ef-. foot being similar to an overdose *.Hc preferred neo-salvarsan , , 1 which had been used successfully in 750 oases at St.. Bartholomew's Hospital. Tho publio had nothing to fear, as salvarsan was loss dangerous than chloroform , .

In the light of tho above cable passage, a review article in tho "British Medical Journal" of February 21 last, on Dr, Montberper's now book dealing with the arsenical treatment of syphilis is worth wading. In the ojiin'on of tho reviewer. Dr.. Meutberger's book is_ "the most unbiased and scientific exposition of tho whole subject that has yet been published," Dr. Hentberger produces fividence'in support of his contention that the after-effects; of the drup; salvarsan. can be explained 'on the theory of arsenical intoxication, and by no other. Numerous theories put forward by Professor Ehrlich nnd others to Explain those aftereffects in any other way all receive careful attention, and are all shown (says the reviewer) to - be without foundation, The toxio (poisoning) action of salvarsan is due, says Dr. Ment.berßW, to the high percentage of arsenic (31 per cent.), which It contains. In the above cable message it is stated by Dr. Womack that "there had been only 150 deaths due to salvarsan throughout the world." Dr. Mentberger cites 274, which total "does not include cases occurring in infants." A oertain percentage (31) of these 274 ca?fi3 were considered by tho author to have boon due to the direct toxic action of arsenic; others were indirectly due to this, while in a third group were those on whom the drug had been used when there were "contra-indications," i.e., circumstances existing which forbade tho employment of the drug. Forty-one cases of death ocourred aftorjnjrctions of salvarsiin' in non-syphilitic affections. Dr. Mentberser considers that although salvarsan is "a useful addition to therapeutics of syphilis, it cannot replace mercury and tho iodides." He pdvisos great caution in its use, and strickobservane'e of "contra-indications, though these "cannot always be ascertained boforehand." Finally, he advises that tho patient should always be informed 'that salvarsan, even after numerous injections, does not cure syphilis, and that prolonged intermittent treatment is absolutely necessary afterwards."-