Ann. rheum. Dis. (1956),15, 251. CHLOROQUINE AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS A SHORT-TERM CONTROLLED TRIAL BY

duced improvement in lupus erythematosus, he stated that, in one of his patients, a rheumatoid type of arthritis which had been present for 2 years improved together with the skin lesions. Following this report, I began an investigation of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with mepacrine (Freedman and Bach, 1952). Early results were promising, but a controlled trial was not possible because the drug almost invariably discoloured the skin. A pilot investigation with other antimalarials suggested that Proguanil was of doubtful value, but that chloro-quine seemed to give benefit with absence of toxic reactions*. The controlled trial with chloroquine was begun in April, 1953. Procedur