Acute syphilitic nephritis is a condition reported infrequently and is especially rarely described in the American literature. Stengel and Austin1 were the first ones in this country to give a comprehensive review of the subject; their work dealt largely with the chronic rather than with the acute cases. In 1916, Stokes2 reported a case with a detailed review of the literature. He also reported another case recently, the etiology of which he questions. Cole3 reported a clear-cut clinical case in January, 1920, which fulfilled the usual diagnostic requirements. In a general discussion of syphilitic nephritis, Thompson4 called attention to a case that came under his observation, but he did not give details.
On the continent much more has been written on the subject of syphilitic nephritis. In 1900, Karvonen5 reviewed the literature and out of ninety-two case reports, he could accept only twenty cases as