This paper is the fourth of a series dealing with the effect of certain antisyphilitic remedies on the Wassermann reaction. It describes the action of sulpharsphenamin—an arsphenamin derivative which differs from neo-arsphenamin by the presence of an additional atom of oxygen in each side chain—on the Wassermann reaction in congenital and acquired syphilis. The principal preparations used were manufactured by the Laboratorie de biochémie médicale of Paris and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
In order to obtain the uncomplicated effect of sulpharsphenamin on the Wassermann reaction, no auxiliary drugs such as mercury and the iodids have been used. Since mercury itself influences the reaction and only one course of sulpharsphenamin was administered, our results should prove less favorable than if several courses of combined antisyphilitic treatment had been employed.
The strength of the Wassermann reaction was measured as described in a previous paper1 before, half way through and