Antimony in the treatment of leprosy.

Antimony is one of the many drugs which has been advocated in the tr eatment of leprosy. ·In the Pretoria Leper Institution we find it useful in various types of cases. We agree with Muir (1) that it has "the power of controlling the condition of lepra reaction," and we use it as a routine for erythema nodosum leproticum. Incidentally we are also using insulin for this condition as recommended by Pogge and Ross (2), but have not yet decided which is the better line of treatment. Apart from its effect on the "lepra reaction," antimony can be used as an adjuvant or as a substitute for other treatments. We find it indicated in tuberculoid cases, more particularly of course when they are in the reactive phase, and also in neural cases that have a lowered resistance and are developiNg new maculae. In the lepromatous cases it occasionally"seems to have a beneficial effect. Our usual technique is to ' give antimony alone for ten injections. This, is followed"' by .a fortnight without treatment and if the lesions are shO'wing sigl),s of subsidence we then proceed with routine intramuscular and intradermal treatment with the ethyl esters of cha~lmopgra·, In·one "'i-~stance we have used it in conjunction with p; omin with s~, '~factory results. Where antimony does not produce./the desi-red , quiescence in the lesions we interrupt the chaulmoogra course by a three months course of intramuscular bismuth. ' We have not found that continuous or multiple courses of antimony have a beneficial effect (in fact case 13 points rather to an injurious effect), nor are we impressed with the intensive method of administration. ? ' . We have found it convenient to use antimony in the form of fouadin given intramuscularly and have found stibatin and fantorin to be very similar in, effect. Cases 1 and 2 illustrate complete resolution of tuberculoid lesions after three courses of antimony, each followed by chaulmoogra. Case 1. Figures 1 and 2. This case (No. 6702) was admitted to this institution in 1936 , with "raised, red, spongy maculae on face, trunk, and limbs." He was treated with intradermal and intramuscular injections of iodized ethyl esters of chaulmoogra oil until I assumed duty in 1939. His condition had remained st~.tionary. In April he was given ten intramuscular injections of foull'din ,and after a for tnight's rest the chaulmoogra was resumed. In J~,me -ke l;t9tea "marked improvement though occasional