The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-08-14

posed to be tuberculosis. Upon in Ivestigation, however, it was founc that the mother had syphilis anc that she had been infected by hel husband. The children were suf- fering from this disease and mol from tuberculosis. Under treatment the children improved. Under standing on the part of the parents might have prevented the infection Iof the children or at least have given them a better chance for cure through early treatment.
 The Great Imitator
 Syphilis is all the more insidious because often those suffering from it are not aware that they have it They may be constant source ot danger to others and, because they do not know that they have been infected, they fail to get the treat |ment that would check the ravages of the disease or effect cure. A person may have been infected without his or her knowledge and have no idea that the disease is |entrenching itself in the body, slow |ly bringing serious harm to the heart, blood vessels, nervous sys- tenn, and other vital tissues and |organs.
 It is not ordinarily possible for the lay person to detect those who are suffering from syphilis. Most people suppose that the condition |of the skin is evidence of infection with this disease, but this is not always so. The skin may or may not be affected. Often those suf- fering from a severe attack of the disease show no skin blemish and are not incapacitated in any man ner which may be detected in any way other than by suitable med- ical examination which includes a blood test for syphilis
 So frequently is sphilis the cause of illnesses attributable to other diseases that many hospitals of the country and many of our leading physicians make blood tests rou- tine practice in the thorough ex- animation of patients.
 This dangerous disease has right ly been called "The Great Imita- tator,s for in it's latter stage it may be mistaken for many other dis eases-as, for example, psoriasis, tu- berculosis, cancer, sciatitc rheuma- tism, arthritis, and various other diseases of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Syphilis is the common cause of locomotor ataxia and of general paresis, or general paralysis of the insane.
 Course After Infection
 THE FIRST STAGE: Syphilis runs through several more or less characteristic stages. The primary stage usually begins as a local sore, called the chancre, at the point of contact with the infection. The chancre appears from 12 days to 40 days-on the average, three weeks after exposure. It may be merely a red spot or blister or pimple, or it may develop into an ulcer of considerable size. AS rule, the chancre is very hard and feels like a button or piece of cardboard under the skin. It is usually pain less. The lymph glands that drain the area which has become infect ed bee m e markedly enlarged. Therefore, if the chancre appears on the sex organs, the glands in the groins become enlarged If the chancre is on the lip, the glands in the neck will become swollen con- siderably. AS a rule, these enlarg- ed glands are not painful. A chan ere on the lip may resemble an or dinary cold sore. Within a few weeks the chancre will disappear even without treatment, leaving nothing obvious to show that the disease is present. Syphilis is a great deceiver.
 The chancre stage of the disease is very infectious although the blood in this stage does not show a positive reaction to the Wasser- mann test for active syphilis. How ever, the germ can be detected by microspocic examination. Treatment begun in the chancre stage offers the greatest chance of cure and ot escaping the destructive results ot the disease. Hence, early diagnosis is extremely important.
 Even experts can seldom diagnosis syphilis with certainty from it's outward manifestations alone. Often there are no outward signs. Lab- oratory tests which include micro scopic examination must be used as aids in diagnosis.
 Comparatively few people realize the importance of consulting a phy- sician as soon as possible after the symptoms appear, or as soon as there is reason to think they have been exposed to infection. If the infected person places himself un- der treatment immediately after ex- posture, or before the blood becomes