Question

There are various arsenic drugs (containing arsenic compounds), such as Salvarsan, Atoxyl, and Tryparsamide. Their main use is in the treatment of:
A.Syphilis
B.Typhoid
C.Jaundice
D.Cholera

Answer 1

A bacterial infection mainly spread through sexual contact; syphilis has long been a feared disease. Paul Ehrlich was a German scientist. He investigated arsenic-based compounds in order to produce less toxic substances for the treatment of syphilis.

Complete step by step answer:
In the early 20th century Arsenic was claimed as the salvation of those suffering from syphilis.The first symptom of Syphilis is usually a small, open sore, followed by rashes that can spread all over the body. In its late stage, which can take anywhere from five to forty years to reach, syphilis may attack the central nervous system, the worst cases result in paralysis, dementia and sometimes even death. Historic treatments were even worse than the disease itself and produced many of the same symptoms as advanced syphilis.
Ehrlich and his partners, organic chemist Alfred Bergheim and bacteriologist Sahachiro Hata, experimented with hundreds of compounds until finding success, which would be called Salvarsan. The drug came to market in 1910.
Ehrlich’s compound was a synthetic derivative of arsenic, successfully treating the early and middle stages of infection but no one knew exactly how the drug worked. It killed the syphilis-causing bacteria without poisoning the patient. Ehrlich called his drug a “magic bullet.” Salvarsan widely became a treatment of choice for syphilis and remained so until replaced by penicillin.

Therefore, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: The arsenic drugs used to treat the disease syphilis due to the effect on the bacteria, spirochete, which causes syphilis.