Quantitative Distribution of Gold in the Body or Its Physiopathologic Retention as a Reciprocal of the Capillary System

In a recent publication1evidence was submitted which proved that regardless of the site—arm, leg, abdomen, flank, chest or back—from which a specimen of skin for biopsy was obtained, the quantity of gold in the specimen was directly proportional to the total dosage administered. Likewise, when several specimens for biopsy from the leg and lumbar region and from the forearm and lumbar region were obtained from the same patient, the respective specimens showed an equal quantity of gold, proving the uniform distribution in the cutis. Further, it was found that gold remained permanently fixed in the cutis or connective tissue, the factor of time after the last injection being irrelevant. Recently there have been reports in the literature describing a peculiar violaceous tint of the exposed skin in patients living in Alpine regions who had received treatment with gold compounds. If a solution of gold sodium