The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-24

care OH W0tefDuEy UemOcEutsD
 EDITORS NOTE: This is the
 sixth of series of seven articles
 on the Third Great Plague-Syph-
 ilis-written by Dr. Brady, for this
 newspaper.
 THE EARLY STAGE OF
 SYPHILIS
 Article Number Six
 The incubation period, in any in- fectious disease, such as scarlet fever or whooping cough, is the interval between the moment of in lection or inoculation and the ap- pearance of the first sign or symp- tom of the illness. In the case of scarlet fever the incubation period is short, usually from 36 hours to three or four days; in the case of whooping cough 1t is longer, from seven to ten days. During incuba- ton the individual remains in his ordinary health and there is noth- ing to show and no test by which we can ascertain in the course of the incubation period that the in diyidual IS about to develop the dis ease. The germs of the disease, whatever 1t may be, are as yet too few in number to stimulate a reac- ton in the individuals blood or tis- sues; only when the invading dis ease germs or virus or toxins become strongly established, well organized, does the body react, and the natural reactions of the body against the invading disease organisms explain the lesions or signs of the disease. In the case of syphilis the primary incubation period, from the moment of inouculation to the appearance of the hard sore or chancre at the point of inoculation, varies from two to five weeks. Then follows sec ondary incubation period, from the time the chancre appears to the ap- pearance of the general symptoms, which commonly resemble the onset of grip" along with skin rash (if any) which usually does not show about the face, and mucous patches in the mouth; the secondary incu- bation period is from three to six weeks.
 Both incubation periods indicate that to 8 degree syphilis is by way of becoming a self-limited disease, that invasion of the tissues by the germs of syphilis induces natural reactions that tend ot cure hte dis ease. Certainly the syphilis we know today is less virulent than was the syphilis of times past, judging by the effects we see today and read about in historical medical works. Or perhaps the disease is as virulent as ever, but modern treatment plus better general hygiene today conl- bine to render it less destructive.
 If the patient is wise enough to go to a good doctor when the pri- mary sore or chancre first appears, there is a good prospect of an im- mediate diagnosis, by the finding Of the germs in a drop of serum from the sore, by examination with the darkfield microscope. At this stage the disease is still localized in the primary sore, not yet spread through the blood, and accordingly there is an excellent chance for a cure by prompt treatment, before any serious harm is done. Adequate treatment at this stage moreover prevents possible transmission of the disease to other persons. Posi- tive diagnosis of syphilis by the darkfleld microscopic test can be made and treatment started ten days to two weeks before Wasser- mann or other blood test will show ..positive". And by the time the Wassermann or other blood test be- comes positive" or gives certainty to the diagnosis, the chance of cure has been diminished. Therefore 1t is vitally important that any one who even suspects he may have con- tracted syphilis report to 3 compe- tent physician for the darkiield mic- roscopic test before applying any remedy to the sore.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Scarlet Fever
 The doctor says scarlet fever is conveyed only by the breath Of the living persons who has It. II this is so ali our burning of bedding and fumiaating of the sickro0m is wrong, --(P. q. B)
 Answer-flot by the breath. that is. not vla or in the air, but tho germ of scarlet fever is spread In the seeretlcns from nose and throat and in the spray given of when the | patient coughs. sneezes or talks. 1so- intlon of the patient is the impor. tamf lantnr in uravanking the snEnad