There probably are few diseases known to man which have caused as much speculation regarding their treatment as erysipelas. Standard textbooks and current medical literature allude to many forms of therapy, among which are well known local applications such as sulphonated bitumen, N. F., zinc stearate, magnesium sulphate, alcohol glycerin, mercurochrome-220 soluble, phenol, lead water, mercuric chloride, picric acid and iodine in various combinations. In addition whole blood, serums, leukocytic extracts and vaccine have all been exploited. Recently Alquier1 and others have advocated the use of ultraviolet radiation. The multiplicity and variability in methods of treatment in a given disease probably indicate an uncertainty as to the value of all of these therapeutic procedures and the lack of uniform success following their employment only stresses the fact that the disease in question is more or less self limited. Erysipelas stands out as a striking example of this group of diseases,