THE WASSERMANN TEST PERFORMED WITH CHANCRE FLUID AS AN AID TO THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF SYPHILIS

Abstract

In a previous communication,¹in which was reported the results of the Wassermann test performed with secretions, exudates and transudates in syphilis, the origin of the complement fixing antibody was discussed. Evidence was presented which justifies the belief that there may occur at the site of syphilitic lesions a local formation of the complement fixing antibody and that the Wassermann test when performed with fluid from these lesions may be of value in differential diagnosis. We wish here to present our results with the Wassermann test performed with fluid obtained from the surface of the chancre and to point out its value as an additional aid to the early diagnosis of syphilis. We performed the Wassermann test with the surface fluid obtained from fourteen chancres. This fluid was obtained by aspiration by means of a small rubber bulb attached to the end of a fine capillary pipet. An ordinary