Syphilis - Venereal Disease.

- RUDDOCK.E.H,

DEFINITION. - A chronic contagious, sometimes congenital, disease peculiar to human subjects, due to the entrance of a specific motile spiral micro-organism, the spirochaeta pallida, through abraded skin or mucous membrane.

Syphilis is usually, but not always, a venereal disease, and is communicated by inoculation which occurs for the most part during sexual intercourse with an infected person. The disease may also be transmitted by infection of the tongue or lips in kissing, by smoking poisoned pipes, by drinking out of infected vessels, by vaccination with human lymph which contains the pus of a syphilitic eruption or the blood of a syphilitic person.

Primary Syphilis. - About twenty-eight days after inoculation a primary sore (hard chancre) appears at the site of infection, which is characterized by a superficial ulcer with indurated base. After about two months it gradually heals and becomes absorbed. So little may the patient be incommoded by the hard chancre that it may be unnoticed. The lymphatic glands of the groin are always somewhat enlarged.

Secondary Syphilis. - From six weeks to three months after the first appearance of the primary sore some slight febrile disturbance, debility, anaemia, and sore throat, usher in a group of so-called secondary symptoms which present considerable variety and may last any time up to two years from infection. The most important are cutaneous eruptions, superficial lesions of the mucous membranes, inflammation of the iris of the eye, pains in joints and bones, etc.

Tertiary Syphilis. - Unless the further progress of the disease be checked by appropriate treatment, a fresh series of lesions may occur after an interval which varies from one to several years. There is no sharp line of distinction between secondary symptoms on the one hand, and tertiary symptoms on the other, but the most characteristic feature of the tertiary lesions is the formation of local tumours called gummata which occur most often in the periosteum, liver, testicle, and brain.

Sooner or later, if the progress of the disease be still unchecked, the so-called syphilitic cachexia sets in and the patient may finally die either from exhaustion, or from some intercurrent affection.

Congenital Syphilis. - This is syphilis derived from intra- uterine infection of the embryo with the syphilitic virus. It is a very much more serious form of the disease than the acquired. Symptoms usually first appear at the end of three to six weeks after birth in the form of cutaneous eruptions resembling those of the secondary period of acquired Syphilis, and most of frequent occurrence on the buttocks, abdomen, palms and soles. Snuffles also constitutes a common initial symptom. The child's appearance is cachectic, the features pinched, the skin dry and shrivelled, and it gradually sinks. On the other hand, if begun sufficiently early, appropriate treatment will speedily restore the child in most cases to a condition of comparative health.

Those coming in contact with Syphilitic patients cannot be too scrupulous in avoiding infection, nor can the patient exercise too much care in preventing the conveyance of the disease to others.

EPITOME OF TREATMENT. -

I. Primary Syphilis. - Merc.-S., Ac.-Nit., Merc.-Cor., Thuja, Ars., Iod., Sulph.

2. Secondary Syphilis. - Ac.-Nit., K.-Hydroid., Merc., K.-Chlor., ARs., Aur.

3. Tertiary Syphilis. - K.- Hydroid, Aur., Phos., Ac.-Phos., Ars., K.-Bich.

Strict cleanliness is indispensable. Above all it must be remembered that Syphilis is a debilitating disease, and the importance of all treatment which tends to the improvement of the general health cannot be over-rated.

Prompt professional homoeopathic treatment at the outset is generally successful in eradicating the disease; and in the later stages professional skill is no less important. The patient must re sign himself to remaining under medical supervision for at least a year after all symptoms have disappeared.

Chronic Syphilis.- Whether he has been treated or not the patient is always liable to develop nerve symptoms. These are the most serious of all the complications of syphilis and the commonest are general paralysis and locomotor ataxia. They generally show themselves about ten years after infection.

In general paralysis there is progressive dementia usually with some form of exaltation. The speech is hesitating, slurred and tremulous. The face muscles and tongue show paresis with tremors. The writing is also affected. Later the muscular power becomes gradually weakened until there is more or less general paralysis. Finally the mind gives out and the patient becomes insane.

TREATMENT. - Ant.-C., Ars., Cann.-Ind., Hyos., Nux-V., Op., Phos., PLumb., Sul., Stram., Ver-A.

Locomotor Ataxy. - This occurs mostly in men and gives rise to certain definite symptoms which may be enumerated as follows Contracted pupils and they do not react to light (Argyll Robertson pupil). Squints and double vision may be found. Lightning pains may occur in any part of the body and girdle pains in the chest or stomach. There may be a sensation of walking on wool or pins and needles in various parts. Attacks of gastric pain and vomiting or of severe pain and straining at stool or of bladder pain with frequent or difficult micturition are common. The knee-jerks and other reflexes are lost. There is difficulty in walking on account of muscular inco-ordination.

General paralysis and locomotor ataxia may be present together.

TREATMENT. - Zinc, Phos., Plumb., Arg. Nit., Oxal-Ac, Chrom., Sulph.