1. Plural of arsphenamine; organic compounds containing arsenic, formerly used as antimicrobial agents in the treatment of syphilis and other infections.
Usage: medical/historical; technical; largely obsolete in modern medicine

Examples

• Arsphenamines were among the first effective treatments for syphilis before the advent of penicillin.
• The discovery of arsphenamines in the early 20th century represented a major breakthrough in chemotherapy.
• Doctors administered arsphenamines intravenously to patients with advanced syphilis.
• The toxicity of arsphenamines limited their use despite their antimicrobial efficacy.
• Modern antibiotics have largely replaced arsphenamines in clinical practice.