THE TREATMENT OF EARLY SYPHILIS WITH PENICILLIN

Abstract

The effectiveness of penicillin in the treatment of early syphilis in human beings was first recorded, in a preliminary report, by Mahoney, Arnold and Harris¹in December 1943. Since then a number of publications²also of preliminary nature have appeared. It is my purpose in the present communication to detail the results of treatment of 96 patients, more than 70 per cent of whom have been observed for a year or more following treatment. These patients were treated between Nov. 17, 1943 and May 18, 1944. <h3>MATERIAL AND PROCEDURE</h3> The series consisted of 92 men and 4 women, 29 of whom were white and 67 Negro patients. They varied in age from 18 to 38 years, approximately two thirds being younger than 25. Lesions of primary or secondary syphilis were present in every case, and the diagnosis was established in 89 by the demonstration of Treponema pallidum in