THE TREATMENT OF SYPHILIS BY MERCURY INHALATIONS: HISTORY, METHOD AND RESULTS

HISTORY  Fumigations in the treatment of disease have been used since the time of Hippocrates. They were highly recommended by Celsus, Galen and others. Probably one of their first uses was in the treatment of scabies; therefore, it was only natural, when the skin manifestations of the new disease syphilis appeared in Europe that fumigations should have been mentioned as being employed to treat it. According to Astruc, to whose admirable book¹ we are indebted for much of our information regarding syphilis in early times, fumigations were first used in the treatment of syphilis by Angelo Bolognino, professor of surgery at the University of Bologna, in 1506. Jacques Catanee² also used them about the same time. Massa² speaks of them in his book on the treatment of the "Malady of Naples." Later, Matthiole,² in 1535, recommends them; likewise Fracastor, in 1546; Gabriel Fallopius, in 1560, in