The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-22
THE NATURE AND COURSE
 OF SYPHILIS
 Article Number Four

Article Number Four
 The popular notion that syphilis Is blood poison" probably grew out of the exploitation Of that term by quacks and nostrum mongers of bygone times. Syphilis is no more blood poison than is tuberculosis or typhoid fever. Syphilis is contagi- ous constitutional disease running a course of years and at one time or another likely to affect any part of the body. Skin rashes, eruptions or lesions which may occur in the course of the disease are among the least harmful manifestations. In- volvement of the nervous system, brain or spinal cord, in the third or later stage of the disease is perhaps the most harmful manifestation, and this, like other grave complica- tions or sequels, is the less likely to happen the more thorough the treatment in the first year of the disease.
 Invariably the beginning or first sign of syphilis is the development of hard sore. called chancre. at the point of inoculation or infection, whether the infection occurs through innocent casual contact or through immoral relations. A period of i1- cuba ton elapses between the mo- ment of inoculation or infection and the development of the chancre, us ually three to five weeks. During this incubation period, however, the germs (called spirochetes, genus lTreponema palidum) are too few in number to cause any evident reac- ton, but as they multiply they in duce local irritation, and the chan ere appears.
 This primary sore, the first stage of syphilis, is usually 8 single pain less sore, resembling an obstinate "cold sore" and it persists from four to six weeks before it heals, perhaps leaving hardened spot for months. A week after the chancre first appears lymph nodes nearby become painlessly enlarged, and within two or three weeks lymph modes throughout the body are so enlarged-a week or two before the secondary stage of syphilis, the skin eruption Off any), sores in mouth, general malaise and fever resembling the onset of mild grip.
 Positive diagnosis of the primary sore is obviously of great impor- tance, for on thiss diagnosis must hinge the success or failure of treat ment. Ill-advised treatment of the "cold sore" may so change its character as to render diagnosis difficult or impossible. There is a lmuch better chance of an accurate diagnosis in the first stage if the patient seeks medical advice at the livery beginning. Microscopic exami- nation may reveal the specific spiro- lchete or treponema and settle the Iuuestion absolutely, and thus weeks lbefore Q blood test would give any dependable information.
 Occasionally chancre, the first stage of syphilis, may be multiple land also painful. Sometimes it ap- Ipears only two weeks after inocu- 1lation. Sometimes it may not be- leone very hard but remain throug- Iout O soft sore. Sometimes 1t seemi little more than an obstinate pimpls Tor chafe or crack in skin or nut Icous membrane. Sometimes 1t ii mistakenly regarded as a burn ol the lip or tongue or a simple infec' ton of scratch or cut on the hand I'm any case the safest course is t |consuIt e physician fl there Is ths Isllghtest doubt about such q sore Mot just any doctor but ono of goot Istanding who is trained and equip lpcd to nake scientitic diagnosis.