Collier's New Encyclopedia

A complete general encyclopedia of 1921 — the world as it was understood just after the Great War, from Aachen to Zwingli, across twelve volumes and six thousand pages.

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Salvarsan

Arseno-benzol, "606," an organic compound containing arsenic, first prepared by Ehrlich and Hata in SALVATION ARMY 1907, its full chemical name being dioxydiamido-arseno-benzol dihydrochloride. It is a specific specific in the treatment of syphilis and other diseases. It is administered intravenously, or injected into the muscles. The latter method is considered more effective, but it produces much pain, and the intravenous method is that generally adopted. The drug is very effective in the early stages of the disease, two or three doses usually affecting a cure within six months. In the secondary stage the disease can be cured in from six months to a year, and most cases even further developed yield to prolonged treatment.

Neo-salvarsan was prepared by Ehrlich in 1912, in consequence of occasional undesirable results following the injection of salvarsan. It is a combination of salvarsan with sodium formaldehyde-sulphoxalate, and while less toxic than salvarsan is generally considered less potent, although it is claimed for it that its effects, although slower, are more lasting. It contains about two-thirds as much arsenic as salvarsan, and occurs as a yellow powder, which is dissolved in distilled water immediately before being injected.

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