β Scribed by Corbitt, H.B. ;Myers, C.N.
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Constitution and physiologic action are the two important factors which determine the partition coefficient of a drug in its distribution in the tissues and in the body fluids. A third and very important factor deals with the physical structure of the drug in its solid phase, its solution phase, and finally in its combining action in the biological medium. In other words, drugs possess an organotropic and a parasitotropic action, and the ratio between these two factors determines an index which renders a decision as to whether or not the drug is safe for therapeutic use-a favorable proportion of organotropy and parasitotropy.
On this basis the Ehrlich chemoceptor and side chain theory still find application in the present use of drugs.
At this time it is only possible to discuss briefly the antiluetic drugs now available. To preface these remarks it should be stated that arsenic in some form should be synergized by means of mercury. At present, no single drug is a t our disposal which will dispense with the other. Intramuscular injection of mercury finds preference in the hands of the largest dispensers of this drug. Physiologically it seems preferable to use the soluble form of mercury prepared in a suitable manner to eliminate pain t o the greatest degree. The salicylate and the benzoate find application in the hands of those who pFefer the insoluble salts of mercury.
The work of Cole is significant in pointing out the failure of absorption in some instances. The other mercurials have been adequately discussed in the Journal of the American Medical Association and contain the consensus of those skilled in their therapeutic application. There has been no outstanding therapeutic work in mercurials beyond that of the above author.
A t the present time bismuth is receiving considerable attention among foreign syphilologists and many very satisfactory reports have appeared, darkened by the usual bismuth forms of acute intoxication such as convulsions, dyspnea, and bradycardia; the chronic type showing diarrhoea, lassitude, albuminuria, and ulcerative stomatitis.
Bismuth preparations may probably find a place in antiluetic therapy, replacing mercury in some instances where the patient has shown a Wassermann fastness or possibly an intolerance to mercury medication. Bismuth has the advantage of possessing both acid and basic properties thereby adapting it to cases where there is need of an amphoteric condition.
Bismuth quinine iodide, bismuth oxybenzoate, and the alkali salts of tartrobismuthate comprise the group now being utilized. The literature on this subject has been very comprehensively reviewed by us in the American Journal of Sypkilis, April 1923.
Bismuth is entirely too toxic for intravenous use, and finds application only in intramuscular therapy. Oily suspensions of the soluble and the insoluble tar-* Read before the Scientific Section, American Pharmaceutical Association meeting at There are three distinct types of bismuth compounds available.
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