THALLIUM ACETATE POISONING IN THE TREATMENT OF RINGWORM OF THE SCALP: REPORT OF TWO CASES

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Abstract
About twenty years ago, Sabouraud1introduced a 1 per cent thallium acetate ointment for the treatment of ringworm of the scalp. He emphasized the toxicity of thallium acetate. If one uses an ointment containing more than 1 per cent of thallium acetate or if one applies the ointment too extensively, accidents may be expected. Sabouraud eventually abandoned this method as well as the oral administration of thallium acetate. About a year ago, fourteen children died of thallium acetate poisoning in Granada.2They developed symptoms of myelo-encephalitis or acute respiratory manifestations two days after ingesting the drug for the treatment of ringworm of the scalp. Necropsies confirmed the presence of lesions caused by that drug. This catastrophe should be reported as a warning against the dangers of thallium acetate, the epilatory or therapeutic dose of which is so near the limit of the lethal dose. It has been insisted

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