Rauwolfia serpentina has been under intensive investigation in this country during the past few years. In India, this drug has been known and used for centuries as a sedative in the treatment of various disorders, such as hysteria, epilepsy, insomnia, insanity,1 and more recently as a hypotensive agent.* Since its introduction into this country by Wilkens and Judson,4 the pharmacologic efficacy of Rauwolfia alkaloids in reducing hypertension and producing bradycardia and sedation has been well established.†
Little has been noted in the literature concerning the value of Rauwolfia in the treatment of various dermatoses. Mention has been given to the coincidental improvement or disappearance of psoriasis while treating arterial hypertension12 and in psoriatic arthritis,13 in which case both the psoriasis and the arthritis improved simultaneously. Recently Rein and Goodman14 reported favorable results using reserpine (Serpasil) in