The Apache sentinel., 1944-02-18


for their cue. These enemies "
mind and body. Some received
with man. Others waited un-9
til their predecessors had weak
ened mans defense to step In
to deliver the final death-deal-
ing stroke. Man fought hard
and is still fighting hard against
the effects of disease.
Some diseases would ease on the
stage, strike blow and then with
draw as soon as they were recog-
nized, and a weapon was found that
could defeat them. One disease
waited, seemingly watching the
others faults, taking their different
forms, and then struck with fury
hitherto unknown. This disease was
syphilis, mans worst enemy.
Syphilis, the scourge of the earth,
called by Sir William Osler "The
Great Imitator," because in its late
stages it Stimulates almost every
disease known to man. The history
of syphilis SAY Pusey," is unique
among great diseases in that it does
rot gradually emerge into the rec
ordS OF medicine as its character
becomes recognized, but appears on
the stage of history with a dramatic
suddenness in keeping with the
tragic reputation it has made; as
great plague sweeping within few
years over the known world
Syphilis is different from other
diseases in that while others either
appear within limited area of the
earth, surface or with slight varia-
tlonS IN respect to race, age and sex,
1t does none of these. It has always
affected mankind wherever he lives
since the earliest definite records of
history. fefi
/ But syphilis is unique among dis
eases. It IS said to be exclusively
a disease to which human beings
OF all ages and races and both
sexes are exceedingly susceptible if
exposed. It was during the fifteenth
century that syphilis first made it's
spectacular entrance, according to
contemporary accounts. It's appear
ance in the fifteenth century at
tracted immediate interest because
of its swift death-dealing effects.
SO rapidly did it spread that it
seemed impossible to believe it had
existed hidden and unknown for
any length of time. New diseases
always are devastating. An infection
in virgin soil is more severe than
among peoples who have suffered
with it for generations and built up
partial immunity. Whether, be-
cause Of their lack of resistance or
because of the exceptional virulence
of the early strain of syphilis, the
disease attacked it's victims with a
violence almost unknown today. |
They suffered from high fever, de-
livering violent headaches and pain
bones, horrible sores and bone ul-
GERS. Even in the secondary stage !
death was not uncommon. The dis
ease was as contagious as smallpox
and spread both through intercourse
and ordinary processes of living.
AS to the first signs of syphilis, |
many medical historians say that it
was introduced into Europe by
members of Columbus crew, sup
poSedly they contacted their disease
from West Indian women, thereby
making it a disease of American or
igin. There has been much debate
On this matter, but all indications
point toward it's being true. Many
circumstances strengthen this be-
lief. The date of it's European APP
pearance is one; also its spread
corresponds to the invasion Of the
Spanish and French army into |
Italy at the siege of Naples in 1895,
and to the return from that cam
paign of the French to its own land.
1t is believed that this army con- /
tacted syphilis while in Italy and .
then spread it when the army broke
up. From that small start the disease /
spread as rapidly as an uncontrolled .
forest fire. Little help came from the (
physicians of the day, as they didn't +
even know what the disease was,
its causes or effects
All sorts of names were given the
disease. To the French it was the |
Neapolitan disease, because they met
it in Naples. The Italians called it
the Frepch or Spanish disease. The /