Toxicity of Mersalyl (Salyrgan)

Despite the widespread use of the newer mercurial diuretics, merbaphen (novasurol) and mersalyl (salyrgan), there still exists some doubt as to their ultimate harmlessness. Stomatitis, colitis, proctitis, purpura, hematuria and even death have been reported following the use of novasurol. With the introduction of salyrgan there was noted a decrease in the severity and number of the reations. 1 In his experiences with both drugs, Petzal 2 called attention to the change. In several hundred injections of salyrgan he saw no toxic manifestations. At necropsy Agnew 3 observed hemorrhagic colitis in eight subjects following the use of novasurol, but no such manifestation occurred after the injection of salyrgan, despite its more extensive use at that time (1926). Bernheim 4 recorded the administration of 1,000 injections of salyrgan without complicating reactions. Tscherning 5 warned against the active use of the drug in aged men with complicating prostatic hypertrophy. In four of