The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-25
What is a Wasser1nann Test?


rhea and Syphilis.
What is a WasseFmann Test?
QEVERAL comrades have written
- IFS to know why they must I'M
dergo further treatment for syph-
Ills when their Wassermann is re-
ported negative The doctor in
sists on more treatment to eiimi-
nate all chance Of the disease still
being present.
To clarity this, it Is important
that certain facts about syphilis and
the WaSsermann test be made clear:
Syphilis is a disease caused BY a
cro-organism germ, to put it
regularity called spirocheta pallida,
This organism has the power to in
feet the entire system and lodge in
various places. It does its work
slowly without the patient feeling
sick at the onset. Often, its results
are noted Sly after many years
(even ten or twenty years later.
At the onset Of the disease (first
or chancre stage) the Wassermann
test is negative, although infection
exists already. This requires some
explanation. The Wassermann test
is not test for the micro organ
ism (spirocheta) directly. After the
spirocheta enters the body. it re-
acts with body tissues and produces
substances which are thrown into
the blood. It is these substances
so produced that give the positive
Wassermann.'
After vigorous treatment. the
Spirochetes may be stunned or weak
ened and as they Go not attack
body tissues much at this point. the
Wassermann becomes negative,
This is the danger point because
patients think that at this stage
they are cured and so stop treat
ment. Unfortunately, this Is a mis-
take, since the spirochetes may be
stunned, but not dead. Experience
has shown that treatment must
consist Of at least four courses of
salvarsan (ten injections each) and
four coures Of bismuth or mercury
of fifteen injections each, regard
less of the WaSsermann. This is
a minimum. If the Wassermann
continues positive, much more
treatment may have to be given.
Further, Wassermann's must be
done over a period of several years
to eliminate any slip-up. Finally,
a spinal-tiuid examination is made,
to make sure that the brain and
nervous system are not involved,
since the negative blood Wasser-
mann gives information about the
rest of the body, but not necessarily
about the spinal cord and brain.
Self Treatment for Gonorrhea
G. s., Sandstone, Minn-If you are
y still afflicted with gonorrhea in
spite of treatment, there is prae-
tically nothing that you can do
yourself. Treatment must be given
by competent physician and varies
according to the needs of the par
tieulsr case.
Home treatments in gonorrhea
are not only vslueless, but In many
cases do much harm and lead to
complications.
You should see a good doctor or
go to Genito-u urinary clinic in a
recognized hospital where you can
receive adequate treatment.
Medicine BY Mouth for Gonorrhea
r.. S. NJ, New York City:-The use
of drugs by mouth in the treat
ment of gonorrhea is by no means
curative procedure. In fact, it
is very doubtful whether any drug
by mouth is very effective in the
treatment Of gonorrhea.
One must be very cautious in
reading enthusiastic reports in the
capitalist press concerning any
medical treatment. Too often
scientific reports are misinterpreted
or falsified for one reason or an
other. It Is considered doubtful to-
day that genito-urinary infections,
especially gonorrhea, can be effec-
lively treated with medication by
mouth alone. In spite Of high pres
sure advertising and many reports,
we still believe today that plain
water is as effective an antiseptic
In gonorrhea as almost any drug
taken by mouth.
It is true that sandalwood oil in
early cases does give some relief
and allays the inflammation, but
the antiseptic effect is practically
absent. The same is largely true of
pyridium, caprokol and the hun-
dreds of others on the market. AL
though all of these drugs lull germs
in the test tube their action in the
genito-urinary trsct is very slight
and certainly doed not warrant the
expense.
We feel that in the ordinary acute
case of gonorrhea a little sandle-
wood oil with large amounts of
water is helpful but in long stand
ing chronic cases oral antisepties
are of no value In these cases If
infection is actually present, local