BY-EFFECTS IN SALVARSAN THERAPY AND THEIR PREVENTION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE LIVER FUNCTION

VII BOOK REVIEWS BY-EFFECTS IN SALVARSAN THERAPY AND THEIR PREVENTION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE LIVER FUNCTION. BY V. Genner. I936. THE treatment of syphilis has been revolutionised by the introduc- tion of salvarsan and bismuth, which have almost ousted mercury and the iodides from the therapeutic field. Unfortunately in their train unknown to they have brought complexes almost the earlier syphilolo- gists-such as erythema and exfoliative dermatitis, jaundice and acute and a yellow atrophy of the liver, host of relatively minor side effects, such as nitritoid crises, Herxheimer reactions, general malaise, dyspepsia, etc. in and V. Genner has investigated these Copenhagen, reports his findings and opinions in a monograph entitled " By-effects in Salvarsan Therapy and their Prevention with Special Reference to the Liver Function." A study of this paper will convince anyone that dermatitis and jaundice are the direct result of the intensification of salvarsan therapy, though 9I4 appears to be less to blame than 6o6, which it has largely superseded in this country. With the decrease in the use of mercury albuminuria has almost disappeared, but bismuth has brought in its train a new complaint, viz., arthralgia. It is the preven- is the tion of these toxic effects which of greatest importance, and here to Genner has not been able to contribute much our knowledge; as in regards their treatment he favours thiosulphate dermatitis and no made of a glucose in jaundice; mention is fatty diet as a prophy- lactic measure. in a short review to into...