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Remembering the Pioneers of Topical Agents

Remembering the Pioneers of Topical Agents While everyone remembers seeing a traveling salesman pushing “Dr Smith’s Wonder Pills” or something similar in a Class B Western movie, many have forgotten that several serious dermatologic preparations carry the name of a colleague of the past. These former mainstays of dermatologic therapy are disappearing because proof of efficacy is lacking, a declining interest in compounding them, and the inclusion of ingredients no longer deemed suitable for topical use. We recall a few examples that, a generation ago, were prescribed daily by almost every dermatologist. Burow solution is an aluminum acetate solution with astringent and antibacterial properties that was primarily used with wet dressings. Karl August Burow (1809-1874) was an ophthalmologist in Königsberg, East Prussia. Castellani paint is a carbol fuchsin solution that is an effective antifungal and antimicrobial agent. It discolors the skin so badly that colorless forms were developed. Aldo Castellani (1877-1971 was an Italian physician with a broad range of interests, especially in tropical medicine. He was an enthusiastic Italian royalist and also supporter of Benito Mussolini as well as a peripatetic physician who practiced around the world, including New Orleans, Louisiana. Lassar paste is a zinc oxide paste, still in use to treat diaper dermatitis. It was also one of the early vehicles used for anthralin in treating psoriasis. Oscar Lassar (1849-1907) was a flamboyant practitioner in Berlin, Germany, who had a flourishing private clinic, had an early moulage collection, and was a leader in developing public baths. He may have been the first dermatologist to die in an automobile accident.1 Schamberg lotion is an inexpensive antipruritic formulation of zinc oxide with menthol and phenol. Because of the latter ingredient, it fell into disrepute. Jay Schamberg (1870-1934) established the Dermatological Research Laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania, which was the only American supplier of a neo-arsphenamine during World War I. He plowed the considerable profits back into further research, helping establish Pennsylvania as a leading dermatologic center. The Unna boot is a gauze bandage impregnated with calamine and zinc oxide paste used to treat stasis dermatitis and leg ulcers. Paul Gerson Unna (1850-1929) was a pioneer histopathologist who worked out of his own institute, the Dermatologicum, in Hamburg, Germany. He was also an innovative therapist who trained a number of prominent dermatologists.2 Whitfield ointment is an inexpensive antifungal agent still in use. It contains 3% salicylic acid and 6% benzoic acid in a lanolin base. Arthur Whitfield (1868-1947) was a pioneer British dermatologist who started the program at King’s College, authored a widely used small textbook, and was a founder of the British Association of Dermatology.3 Even as their compounds gradually fall victim to modernization, we should be thankful to these individuals for their highly personal contributions to the dermatologic treatment armamentarium. Back to top Article Information Corresponding Author: Leonard J. Hoenig, MD, 601 N Flamingo Rd, Ste 201, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 (gooddocljh@gmail.com). References 1. Scholz A. Oscar Lassar (1849-1907). In: Löser C, Plewig G, Burgdorf WHC, eds. Pantheon of Dermatology: Outstanding Historical Figures. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer; 2013:649-652. 2. Hollander A. Scientific work of Paul Gerson Unna. Arch Derm Syphilol. 1950;62(3):351-361.PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 3. Williams DI. Three British dermatologists: Arthur Whitfield, Erasmus Wilson, and Henry Radcliffe Crocker. Arch Dermatol. 1976;112(Spec no):1654-1658.PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA Dermatology American Medical Association

Remembering the Pioneers of Topical Agents

Remembering the Pioneers of Topical Agents

Abstract

While everyone remembers seeing a traveling salesman pushing “Dr Smith’s Wonder Pills” or something similar in a Class B Western movie, many have forgotten that several serious dermatologic preparations carry the name of a colleague of the past. These former mainstays of dermatologic therapy are disappearing because proof of efficacy is lacking, a declining interest in compounding them, and the inclusion of ingredients no longer deemed suitable for topical use. We recall a...
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References (15)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
2168-6068
eISSN
2168-6084
DOI
10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.3620
pmid
26762254
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

While everyone remembers seeing a traveling salesman pushing “Dr Smith’s Wonder Pills” or something similar in a Class B Western movie, many have forgotten that several serious dermatologic preparations carry the name of a colleague of the past. These former mainstays of dermatologic therapy are disappearing because proof of efficacy is lacking, a declining interest in compounding them, and the inclusion of ingredients no longer deemed suitable for topical use. We recall a few examples that, a generation ago, were prescribed daily by almost every dermatologist. Burow solution is an aluminum acetate solution with astringent and antibacterial properties that was primarily used with wet dressings. Karl August Burow (1809-1874) was an ophthalmologist in Königsberg, East Prussia. Castellani paint is a carbol fuchsin solution that is an effective antifungal and antimicrobial agent. It discolors the skin so badly that colorless forms were developed. Aldo Castellani (1877-1971 was an Italian physician with a broad range of interests, especially in tropical medicine. He was an enthusiastic Italian royalist and also supporter of Benito Mussolini as well as a peripatetic physician who practiced around the world, including New Orleans, Louisiana. Lassar paste is a zinc oxide paste, still in use to treat diaper dermatitis. It was also one of the early vehicles used for anthralin in treating psoriasis. Oscar Lassar (1849-1907) was a flamboyant practitioner in Berlin, Germany, who had a flourishing private clinic, had an early moulage collection, and was a leader in developing public baths. He may have been the first dermatologist to die in an automobile accident.1 Schamberg lotion is an inexpensive antipruritic formulation of zinc oxide with menthol and phenol. Because of the latter ingredient, it fell into disrepute. Jay Schamberg (1870-1934) established the Dermatological Research Laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania, which was the only American supplier of a neo-arsphenamine during World War I. He plowed the considerable profits back into further research, helping establish Pennsylvania as a leading dermatologic center. The Unna boot is a gauze bandage impregnated with calamine and zinc oxide paste used to treat stasis dermatitis and leg ulcers. Paul Gerson Unna (1850-1929) was a pioneer histopathologist who worked out of his own institute, the Dermatologicum, in Hamburg, Germany. He was also an innovative therapist who trained a number of prominent dermatologists.2 Whitfield ointment is an inexpensive antifungal agent still in use. It contains 3% salicylic acid and 6% benzoic acid in a lanolin base. Arthur Whitfield (1868-1947) was a pioneer British dermatologist who started the program at King’s College, authored a widely used small textbook, and was a founder of the British Association of Dermatology.3 Even as their compounds gradually fall victim to modernization, we should be thankful to these individuals for their highly personal contributions to the dermatologic treatment armamentarium. Back to top Article Information Corresponding Author: Leonard J. Hoenig, MD, 601 N Flamingo Rd, Ste 201, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 (gooddocljh@gmail.com). References 1. Scholz A. Oscar Lassar (1849-1907). In: Löser C, Plewig G, Burgdorf WHC, eds. Pantheon of Dermatology: Outstanding Historical Figures. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer; 2013:649-652. 2. Hollander A. Scientific work of Paul Gerson Unna. Arch Derm Syphilol. 1950;62(3):351-361.PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 3. Williams DI. Three British dermatologists: Arthur Whitfield, Erasmus Wilson, and Henry Radcliffe Crocker. Arch Dermatol. 1976;112(Spec no):1654-1658.PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Journal

JAMA DermatologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: Jan 1, 2016

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