The oral administration of mercury bichloride in the treatment of syphilis was introduced by Sanchez in 1742. This method of therapy was held in high favor by most prominent syphilologists until Ehrlich's discovery of arsphenamine. It saved untold thousands from mercurialism, salivation and the manifold cutaneous lesions that were caused by the reckless use of mercuric ointment. In fact, salivation which in twenty-four hours produced 5 or 6 pounds of viscous saliva was considered essential for a cure. Hence, as early as 1497 Gaspard Torrella wrote: "Avoid like the plague, these murderous ointments, who have already made so many victims." Rabelais1 spoke "of the poor syphilitics, anointed to the point at which their teeth started like the keys of an organ when played on." The oral method of antisyphilitic therapy introduced by Sanchez and popularized by Van Swieten remained, in the opinion of Fournier and others, the method of