The introduction of any drug which holds out some
prospect of success in the treatment of spirillar and
trypanosome diseases must, of necessity, attract great
attention but no remedy has, up to the present, caused
such a furore as Salvarsan. Although quinine, salicy -
lates and tuberculin have all had great ovations they
have not created such a universal enthusiasm as "606 ".
Medical men have described its effects in *lowing
terms and the lay press has contained some extraordinary
statements about its curative properties.All these statements err on one point - the mention
of the word cure. It cannot be too strongly insisted
that we cannot promise that yet and the circulation of
false powers will bring disappointment to some people
and throw some discredit on the drug. On the other
hand accounts of amaurosis after it are erroneous and
they will tend to limit its use unfairly. Wechsel-
mann, Ernest Lane, Pernet, Hutchinson and others have
all tried to moderate the excessive enthusiasm which
has arisen about it.In a third way false statements have been publish d.
Some say it will supplant mercury and iodides but that
is impossible. Cases are on record where these old
and trusted remedies have acted and Salvarsan failed.
There is no doubt however that it will limit their use.It marks the commencement of a new era in the
treatment of parasitic diseases and, in time, it may
become the parent of new substances which may have a
still better action. At present it is doing excellent
work and if we improve its technique and dosage or
combine it with other substances we may, in time, wipe
out the scourge of syphilis which has done so much
evil since the middle ages
