1912

Hideyo Noguchi, stimulated by von Pirquet’s discovery in 1907 of tuberculin skin test, develops a similar test for presence of Treponema pallidum (syphilis) using an extract of pure strains of the spirochete (luetin). Luetin produced striking reactions in cases of tertiary syphilis missed by Wasserman test. After experimenting with rabbits and monkeys, and on himself and several other physicians, he moved to test the extract on a larger population. With collaboration of 15 physicians in NY area and 400 subjects, Noguchi tested the extract. Use of orphans and nonsyphilitic hospital patients  antivivisectionist uproar (Lederer II, 34ff.), esp. over lack of consent (and violation of individual rights) of the controls. But Noguchi was vindicated in May, 1912 by NYC public prosecutor.