Abstract
Sodium thiosulphate was introduced into therapy several years ago by one of us, 1 in cooperation with Dennie and McBride, as a means of relieving certain types of intoxication, such as the metallic toxemias. The drug, simple as it may seem, has fully met the vital test of yielding prompt relief when administered soon after the development of the toxic symptoms.
Our interest has led us now for several years to a further study of its modus operandi. The authors 2 have previously reported on the excretion of arsenic in cases of arsenic dermatitis. The action of sodium thiosulphate is least marked in cases of inorganic arsenic poisoning; next in order, it is effective after the pentavalent organic preparations; and the greatest efficiency is reached with the trivalent group represented by the arsphenamines. The activity of sodium thiosulphate cannot be judged by the excretion of arsenites. It has been pointed out by Mueller and Myers 3 that the skin and the liver are the two main organs involved in intoxication, and on this basis sodium thiosulphate serves as a protective drug in respect to the autonomic nervous system.
The present report offers clinical and experimental evidence in favor of the efficacy of freshly prepared sodium thiosulphate in hastening the excretion of arsenic either in its inorganic or in its organic form. Furthermore, sodium thiosulphate does not disturb the therapeutic action of the arsphenamine compound in its action on Trypanosome equiperdum. Prompt results have been noted by leading syphilologists in connection with dermatitis and jaundice following the use of the arsphenamine group. Some clinical data have recently been made available through the investigations of H. H. Dale, of the British Medical Research Committee. 4
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.