Colloidal Mercury Sulphide in the Treatment of Syphilis

Wakerlin, G. E.

doi:10.1001/archderm.1934.01460130057010

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 2 publications

(1 reference statement)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The effectiveness of mercury as a treatment for syphilis has been questioned (Miller, 1858: Weatherill, 1833; although, the treatment remained popular with some physicians. In some cases, syphilitic lesions completely healed and patients became seronegative (Wakerlin, 1934). In syphilitic women treated with mercury during their pregnancy, 91.5% were efficient in completing their pregnancies successfully by live birth, while 47.6% non-treated women experienced fetal death (United States.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Division of Venereal Diseases, 1930). Mercury and its compounds were seen to *Correspondence to: Stella Ioannou The University of Adelaide Adelaide 5005, South Australia, Australia email: stelzy_25@hotmail.com have antibacterial properties that actually reduced, or cured infections with Treponema pallidum (Smith, 1844;Hare, 1858;Warner, 1881;Wakerlin, 1934). Despite their possible curative effects on syphilis, mercurial treatments yield serious side effects including scarlatiniform rashes, stomatitis, pyrexia, bleeding of the rectum, and death in some cases (Chopping, 1899;French, 1909).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Five Cases of Dental Anomalies Attributable to Congenital Syphilis from Early 20th Century American Anatomical Collections

Ioannou¹,

Hunt²,

Henneberg³

2018

DAJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Specific dental abnormalities are considered pathognomonic of congenital syphilis (CS); however, European physicians recognized their variation during the late 19th to mid 20th centuries. Observations of syphi-lis-related dental abnormalities in American individuals from similar time periods are made to determine types of variation among the American population.From a survey of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History anatomical human skeletal collection, five individuals demonstrated dental characteristics consistent with CS (P00011R, P219398, P000707, P000679, and P000161). Hutchinson’s three categories of dental anomalies were used to describe variations among syphilitic individuals.Previously identified pathological dental characteristics related to CS were present in the analyzed individuals. P00011R, 24-year-old Black female, has a maxillary right Moon’s molar. P219398, approximately 20-year-old Black female, has Hutchinson’s incisors and Fournier’s molars. P000707, 26-year-old Black male, displays severe hypoplasia on all incisors, canines and maxillary first molars. P000679, 33-year-old Black female has “screw-driver” shaped maxillary central incisors, altered occlusal morphology of first maxillary molars and hypoplasia. P000161, 45-year-old Black female, demonstrates severe hypoplasia on incisors and canines (molars lost).“Classic” dental characteristics of CS are not ubiquitous to all identified cases. This study exemplifies that den-tal anomalies associated with CS do not all have to be present for diagnosis. Although other causes for some of these anomalies are possible, observations in these five cases are most consistent with CS.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Five Cases of Dental Anomalies Attributable to Congenital Syphilis from Early 20th Century American Anatomical Collections

Ioannou¹,

Hunt²,

Henneberg³

2018

DAJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Some physicians found mercury to be effective in producing negative Wasserman reactions (Conrad and McCann 1922;Wakerlin 1934), and in resolving signs and symptoms of the congenital syphilis after treatment (Lancet, 1858;Lancet, 1881;Lancet, 1885;Fedtchenko, 1898;Hutchinson 1888). However, there are those who argue that there are various issues that need to be considered, and there is no sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of mercury.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Without in vitro studies, it is difficult to establish whether mercury was an effective form of treatment for syphilis. Even after the introduction of other treatments such as arsenic and bismuth, mercury was still used on its own and in combination with these treatments (Wakerlin 1934;Norris et al 1939; United States. Public Health Service.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental signs attributed to congenital syphilis and its treatments in the Hamann-Todd Skeletal Collection

Ioannou

Henneberg

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Syphilis in the United States during the 1800s and 1900s had a high prevalence rate causing great concern to health officials. Various measures were taken to control its spread. Mercuric treatments were used up until the introduction of penicillin. The aim of this paper is to determine whether dental abnormalities related to congenital syphilis in individuals who died of syphilis or syphilis-related causes, in the Hamman Todd Osteological Collection, occur and whether mercurial treatment was effective. Hutchinson, Moon and Fournier's works were analyzed to determine dental abnormalities associated with congenital syphilis and its treatments and used as criteria. Hillson et al. (AJPA,) standardized method of description of dental changes was used. In the Hamman Todd Osteological Collection in Cleveland, Ohio, 102 individuals had cause of death recorded in the catalogue as syphilis or lues, and 69 had causes of death relating to syphilis which included paresis (53), aortic insufficiency (15) and pericarditis (1). Thus altogether 171 individuals were studied. Dentition was examined to determine if dental abnormalities associated with congenital syphilis and its treatments were present in individuals not recorded as having congenital syphilis. Crania were examined for any osteological changes. One individual (2266) demonstrated dental malformations possibly related to the congenital disease itself, while three demonstrated dental abnormalities associated with mercuric treatments in childhood (2118, 2263 and 3097). No remarkable bone pathologies were evident on any skull. The use of pre-penicillin treatment of congenital syphilis may have been effective to maintain health into adulthood but not always in eradicating the infection. Effects of mercury on enamel formation and bone changes, need to be considered when making a differential diagnosis of syphilis/congenital syphilis.

show abstract

Colloidal Mercury Sulphide in the Treatment of Syphilis

Cited by 2 publications

References 2 publications

Five Cases of Dental Anomalies Attributable to Congenital Syphilis from Early 20th Century American Anatomical Collections

Five Cases of Dental Anomalies Attributable to Congenital Syphilis from Early 20th Century American Anatomical Collections

Dental signs attributed to congenital syphilis and its treatments in the Hamann-Todd Skeletal Collection

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About