Rising incidence of venereal disease,1-4 increasing number of reactions to penicillin,5-7 and growing awareness of penicillin-resistant gonococci8-10 are factors which have led to renewed interest in antibacterial agents other than penicillin. Numerous investigators have contributed toward evaluation of various different antibiotics in the treatment of venereal disease. Among the more recent and promising of these antibacterial substances is demethylchlortetracycline.* This communication reports on the effectiveness of this drug in the treatment of early syphilis.
Materials and Methods
Patients attending the Venereal Disease Control Program at the Northwest Central Clinic, Division of Chronic and Preventable Diseases, D.C. Department of Public Health, were selected for this study only if a definitive diagnosis of syphilis was confirmed. These persons were seen either on their own accord because of obvious symptoms or because they were designated as sexual contacts to venereal disease. Dependability, native intelligence, and stability of residence were the