Syphilis

Syphilis, a contagious disorder transmitted by direct inoculation, which presents in many respects resemblances to the "exantheruata," but differs from this group of maladies in its long period of latency, in the length of time during which the early specific eruptions may appear, and in the extended period throughout which the later manifestations of the disease may be developed. The first indication of the disease is the occurrence, usually about four weeks after inoculation of the contagion, of a small papule, which gradually extends, with induration of the surrounding skin, until it attains its full development at the end of about six weeks. This is the hard or Hunterian chancre. Shortly after its appearance the neighbouring lymphatic glands - that is to say, usually those of the groin - become enlarged and indurated. These phenomena constitute what are known as the primary symptoms of the disease. After the lapse of about two months from the time of inoculation the secondary symptoms appear. These consist of febrile disturbance, cutaneous eruptions of variable character, and affection of the mucous membrane of the throat; what are known as mucous tubercles are sometimes developed, and occasionally joint affections, periostitis, iritis and other eye troubles appear. Still later, and usually after the lapse of about a year, but it may be after a much longer interval of time, tertiary symptoms are apt to occur. These may involve the skin (producing tubercular or scaly eruptions) or the mucous membranes (whether of the throat, tongue, larynx, or other parts), or may involve the muscles, bones, or viscera (including among the latter the brain and other nervous structures). These tertiary phenomena are usually attended by a peculiar overgrowth of tissue, resulting in the formation of what are known as gummata. Tertiary lesions are generally distributed unsymmetrically, and have a marked tendency to recur. Syphilis is a common cause of abortion and still-birth, and the children of syphilitic parents sometimes present certain characteristic symptoms which constitute the phenomena of the disease known as inherited syphilis. "These consist mainly of "snuffles," skin eruptions, and the development of mucous tubercles in infant life, while later characteristic phenomena are flattening of the bridge of the nose, a peculiar malformation of the permanent incisor teeth, and interstitial keratitis.