152 



Scientific Proceedings (113). 



1. There is a marked increase in the refractive index of the 

 serum and also in the globulins in Syphilis, especially in active 

 secondary cases. This confirms the findings of Rowe. 



2. The refractive index of the serum is highest in secondary 

 cases, lowest in the congenital and is intermediate between these 

 two in the tertiary cases. The figures for total proteins, albumins, 

 globulins and the relative amount of globulin are somewhat 

 higher in secondary than in tertiary syphilis, the figures for con- 

 genital syphilis being somewhat lower than those of the latter. 



3. Considered in relation to the Wassermann reaction of the 

 sera, before treatment, the strongly positive cases show values of 

 total proteins, albumins, globulins and relative amount of globulins 

 higher, and values of non-proteins correspondingly lower than the 

 weakly positive cases. 



4. During a course of fourteen intravenous injections of arsphe- 

 namine (0.4 to 0.6 gm.) and neoarsphenamine (0.9 gm.), each 

 drug being given at weekly and semi-weekly intervals, the re- 

 fractometric studies (made before each injection) show the fol- 

 lowing results: 



5. Classified according to the Wassermann reaction of the sera 

 before treatment, there are no sufficiently constant or striking 

 differences to warrant differentiating between the strongly and 

 weakly positive series. 



6. Considered according to the intervals of injection the data 

 have much significance. The refractive indices of the sera, 

 when neoarsphenamine was given at seven-day intervals, show a 

 more uniform and continuous decline during the fourteen weeks of 

 treatment, than when arsphenamine was similarly injected. 

 The relative amounts of globulins, on the other hand, show more 

 rapid decline during weekly arsphenamin than neoarsphenamin 

 injections. 



During semi-weekly periods of administration the changes 

 are very irregular. The relative amounts of globulins, however, 

 behave as during the weekly periods. 



7. Classified according to the degree of resistance of the patients 

 to anti-syphilitic treatment (as indicated by repeated Wassermann 

 tests) the following was observed: 



When the Wassermann reaction remained persistently positive, 



