How sublimate of mercury for syphilis led to sclerotherapy for varicose veins

The treatment of syphilis with mercury preparations such as sublimate (of mercury) continued from its beginnings until the introduction of antibiotics after World War II. There were various routes of administration. Initially the focus was on unguent cures, baths and various pill formulations to achieve salivation to eliminate the pathogenic toxins. The invention of the Luer and Pravaz syringes made it possible to give subcutaneous and finally intravenous injections of sublimate. Frequent thromboses of the veins of the arms led to the alternative of injecting into varicose veins. The sclerosing effect made Paul Linser think of sclerotherapy. His colleague, Karl Linser, discovered the first sclerosing agent without mercury, high percentage saline solution.