132 APPLIED IMMUNOLOGY 



much study. Observers from time to time have ob- 

 tained positive results in yaws or framboesia, trypano- 

 somiasis, some cases of leprosy, malarial fever, scarlet 

 fever, and occasionally in other diseases. It is not sur- 

 prising that a positive result should be given in yaws, 

 a disease clinically similar to syphilis in many respects, 

 and which is due to the Spirochceta pertenuis, an or- 

 ganism very difficult to distinguish from the Tre- 

 ponema pallidum. Positive results with the Was- 

 sermann reaction are found more frequently in cases 

 of the tuberous type of leprosy than the anaesthetic 

 form. In malaria the reports are conflicting. Some 

 observers have obtained positive results in a certain 

 percentage of cases, which become negative as soon as 

 the malaria parasites disappear from the blood. 

 Others have had uniformly negative results. Similar 

 experiences have been reported in scarlet fever. After 

 summing up all the data at our disposal, and judging 

 from our own results, we must conclude that except in 

 yaws, trypanosomiasis, and leprosy, a positive Was- 

 sermann reaction means that the patient is the victim 

 of syphilitic infection. The diseases named being 

 practically unknown in temperate climates, should 

 cause no confusion in this part of the world. The 

 positive results obtained in other diseases are either 

 due to the fact that syphilis cannot be absolutely ex- 

 cluded, or to faulty technic. 



