Cure

Doctors usually like to wait ten years before declaring a case of syphilis cured. But last week the medical team which first used penicillin in human syphilis announced that the first four patients treated had been re-examined and, after six years, could be pronounced cured.

Detective methods had to be used to keep track of the four patients, all seamen. The detecting work was done by Dr. John F. Mahoney, who retired last week as medical director of the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory, U.S. Marine Hospital, Staten Island, N.Y., Dr. Richard C. Arnold, his successor, and Serologist Ad Harris. For the first few months after treatment, the seamen had been kept ashore, and on call. But for almost two years of wartime service they were all over the bounding main and in many a disease-ridden liberty port.

Three of the four patients had had no relapses or reinfections since their history-making treatment with penicillin. The fourth had had reinfections, but had been cured again. Concluded Dr. Arnold: "These four men have all married, have children, and have taken a respectable place in the life of the community."

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