A Discussion of
syphilis, its symptoms and treatment. Here I
shall speak of the most dreaded and destructive venereal disease, the
Pox, or syphilis. If
checked early, treating this illness can the most trivial of matters.
If left too long, however, not even the most skilled physician
will be able to do much good. The
French Disease typically first manifests itself as a cancre near or on
the parts of procreation. Whenever
such a sore appears in the lower regions, it is almost definitely a
sign of venereal taint. The
cancre can appear in other areas, such as the fingers, or other soft
areas of the body, as the disease can be spread simply through contact
with a pock. The
cancre, if left untreated, will not heal like most sores, but instead
spread and worsen. If
diagnosed quickly, however, and given speedy application of mercury,
the sore will be subdued, and the Pox will be prevented.
William Buchan, on page 74 of his The Prevention and Cure of
the Venereal Disease cites peculiar cases, which I include in the
interest of good science, although in my own experience, I have never
seen what he describes either. “Though
cancres, under proper treatment, soon put on a healing appearance; yet
in some cases, owing perhaps to the patient’s constitution, or the
peculiar virulence of the matter, they will spread, become phagedenic
ulcers, and destroy, not only the glans, but even the whole penis.
As this has never happened to any patient who had been under my
care, from the commencement of the disease, I am inclined to think it
is owing either to improper treatment or neglect.” (13) The
patient of a cancre, or indeed at any point in treating syphilis, is
advised to avoid vigorous activity, which can agitate sores, and
should maintain a robust diet. The
cancre should also be kept clean by washing it with warm water.
Healing ointments and salves should not be applied, provided
there’s plenty of mercury in the system.
Other methods of healing can be dangerous. Another
passage from Buchan is appropriate here with regard to correct
treatment On
page 79: “On
the very first appearance of the chancre I begin to throw in the
mercury in whatever form is most agreeable to the patient. If he prefers a pill, I order him to take two grains of
calcined mercury, made into a pill with crumb of bread, evening and
morning. If his mouth is
not sore, in a few days, he may take two pills at night and one in the
morning; and, if these do not excite some degrees of salivation, two
may be taken morning and evening.” (14) As
the disease progresses, the patient may experience symptoms such as
soreness of the joints, aches, and rashes.
Application of mercury can abate these, although more extensive
doses may be required. In
some sufferers of Pox, the illness has been observed to enter a state
of remission, often for over twenty years, in which no visible
symptoms are present. For
many, the disease has left the system completely, but for others, it
returns in far more horrific force than before.
The Pox can cause blindness, deafness, corrosion of the parts,
destruction of the internal organs, and death.
While mercury can be employed at this stage to stop further
destruction of the body, the havoc which has already taken place
cannot be undone. Clearly
then, the wise will hurry to a doctor at the first sight of a cancre,
that it may be swiftly undone with mercury before further detriment
occurs.
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