Winckel's disease is a malady of the newborn of unknown origin, characterized by the symptom complex of jaundice, cyanosis and hemoglobinuria. Because of this triad and the fact that the course of the disease is usually afebrile, Winckel1 suggested that the condition be called "cyanosis afebrilis icterica perniciosa cum haemoglobinuria." While this name adequately describes the main symptoms of the disease, as well as gives the prognosis which has been usual at least until recently, it is too cumbersome for general use, and there is no reason why the eponym "Winckel's disease" should not be employed. The only real objection is the fact that the condition was indubitably seen and described by others previous to Winckel, though not with his emphasis on the major symptoms.
The etiologic factor in Winckel's disease is usually assumed to be toxemia, either bacterial or chemical, more probably bacterial. Syphilis has not been considered