Abstract
INTEREST in the therapeutics of consumption has again been roused by the reports of successful treat ment, this time by a chemotherapeutic agent which, under the name of sanocrysin, has been investigated by Mjzfllgaard, a professor in the Landbohojskole of Copenhagen. There is no mystery chemically about sanocrysin. It is sodium aurous thiosulphate (Na3Au(S2O3)2) which has long been known as Fordos and Geles salt. Years ago it was shown that gold salts have a powerful action on tubercle bacilli in vitro and several gold preparations, simple and com plex, have been tried therapeutically with indifferent success. MfSllgaard affirms that sanocrysin inhibits the growth of tubercle bacilli in a dilution of 1: 1,000,000 and that their progress may be completely arrested in a concentration of 1: 100,000. In non - tuberculous animals sanocrysin is said to be relatively harmless, whereas in tuberculous subjects very stormy reactions follow its exhibition and may actually end in death. It is believed by M^llgaard that these violent effects are to be attributed to certain poisons, of a tuberculin character, which are liberated from the dying and dead tubercle bacilli from the action of the sanocrysin rather than to a direct toxic action of the thiosulphate. It is said that the violent reactions can be lessened or prevented by the administration of an anti-serum produced by the injection of tubercle bacilli or its products. The sanocrysin treatment is really a twofold process. There is supposed to be the direct bactericidal action of sanocrysin and the neutralisation of its poisonous results by an antitoxin of sorts. The M^llgaard treatment has been applied for a considerable time both in cases of tuberculous human beings and animals, but judgment must at present be reserved as to whether it is likely to occupy a permanent place in tuberculo-therapy.
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Current Topics and Events. Nature 115, 272–277 (1925). https://doi.org/10.1038/115272c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/115272c0