This study was undertaken with the idea of determining so far as possible what percentage of cases of primary and secondary syphilis would show infection of the cerebrospinal fluid as might be demonstrated by the usual laboratory methods.
The tests made on each specimen of spinal fluid were the Wassermann reaction, protein determination and cell count. In every case, comparison of the blood Wassermann has been made with the findings in the spinal fluid. The duration of the disease, the present signs of syphilis and previous treatment have also been taken into consideration.
These studies were made in a series of ninety-one cases. The majority of the patients were either in the primary or the secondary stage of syphilis. The lesions manifested varied from early chancre to a fading secondary rash. A few of them, however, were well past the secondary stage. There was only one out of every four