ANTONIO NUÑEZ RIBEIRO SANCHEZ (1699-1783)

Abstract

The oral administration mercury bichloride in the treatment syphilis was introduced by Sanchez in 1742. This method therapy was held in high favor by most prominent syphilologists until Ehrlich's discovery arsphenamine. It saved untold thousands from mercurialism, salivation and the manifold cutaneous lesions that were caused by the reckless use mercuric ointment. In fact, salivation which in twenty-four hours produced 5 or 6 pounds viscous saliva was considered essential for a cure. Hence, as early as 1497 Gaspard Torrella wrote: Avoid like the plague, these murderous ointments, who have already made so many victims. Rabelais 1 spoke of the poor syphilitics, anointed to the point at which their teeth started like the keys an organ when played on. The oral method antisyphilitic therapy introduced by Sanchez and popularized by Van Swieten remained, in the opinion Fournier and others, the method