Definition

The definition for syphilis, as given by the modem text-books, is that it is a specific disease caused by the Spirochaeta pallida, and that it is developed by infection. That is when it is acquired, or derived by hereditary transmission--congenital syphilis.

Etiology

This is a disease which the medical world feels that it knows all about. Indeed, laymen generally think they know positively that syphilis is a specific disease. It would require volumes to hold the literature that has grown up around this subject. The popular idea is that syphilis starts with an inoculation or infection incurred by cohabiting with a person who has the disease, and that, when it is once started, the ending is doubtful, notwithstanding the fact that the medical profession has discovered many specific remedies. The regular profession is quite positive that there is no such thing as a specific remedy for a specific disease. The idea of specifics has been denounced by the best-educated physicians throughout modern times. But this one disease has been associated with mercury, arsenic, and iodide of potassium as specific remedies. In the last decade a remedy has been discovered that is recognized as more specific than the old remedies; yet, in spite of this new synthetic remedy of specific fame, the old remedies are still in use. Indeed, in institutions where the disease is treated the synthetic remedy commonly known as "606" is used, and at the same time mercury, arsenic, and iodide of potassium are given--probably on the principle that, if one should fail, the other may be the thing needed. This simply shows that, in spite of the so-called specific remedies, the medical mind is not yet ready to accept the fact that there is a specific.

Syphilis, like everything that has a bad reputation, must be the scapegoat for every smaller or minor disreputable thing of its class. If people of pronounced diathesis, and who live in such a way as to create derangements of all kinds--derangements of the blood, nervous system, glandular system, and circulatory system--consult a modern physician, there is a strong probability that most of these symptoms will be charged to syphilis. So cocksure is the profession that this is true that it will not even believe in the negative findings of a Wassermann test, notwithstanding it has as much faith in this test as it has in syphilis itself.

To see a physician struggle with all his might and main to force a blood-test to show a positive reaction is pathetic, to say the least. I have many patients coming to me during the year, from different parts of the world, bringing written examinations and reports showing the results of many examinations; and if there should be nine negative examinations and one positive, that one is sufficient to settle the question that the patient has syphilis. Occasionally I have patients who have been treated for syphillis, and whom the physicians have positively declared to have syphilis, despite the fact that several Wassermann tests have shown a negative reaction. The fact of the matter is that the mind of the medical profession is positively settled on this subject, and that there is no hope of anything contrary to the general belief receiving any attention whatever.

As I am not at all in sympathy with any part of the medical history of syphilis, or the present general beliefs, I shall recommend those who want to know what the popular opinions are on this subject to consult the leading text-books; for I have no desire or inclination to write from that standpoint. Hence, what I have to say in the following pages will be strictly my individual opinion, with no apologies for differing with the whole world, if I do. I can very well afford to stand alone, when I stand with as clear a conscience in the matter as I do, and have as fine a list of cured subjects as I have.

Symptoms

The disease begins with a very small denuded surface. This may look like a speck of herpes; and, indeed, that may be, and probably is, the initial stage in many cases. After that, from this small denuded spot it will spread. There is a hypersecretion about the foreskin or glans. If watched carefully, the parts will be seen to be quite moist; they should be looked at every three hours, and the secretions removed. In a day or two the spot begins to be a defined ulcer in shape. If not treated properly, the ulcer grows quite rapidly, swelling of the prepuce takes place, and a sensitive and swollen condition of the glands in the groin appears. The lymphatics in the groins take on enlargement. If the treatment is of an irritative character, such as cauterizing or cleaning with peroxide of hydrogen, the parts become quite sensitive, and the ulcer spreads with a thickened, indurated border. If taken hold of by the fingers, there will be a sensation of hardness. The thickened and indurated parts will present a ring of hardness standing all around the ulcer. If the patient has quite an acid condition, shown in a white tongue--one that is broad, pallid, and with prints of the teeth on the edges--and if the case is treated with local applications of mercury, the ulceration will take on a very active growth, because of the local poisoning caused by the mercury coming in contact with the acid secretion.

Treatment

In the beginning of the treatment, Dr. Osler says in his work on practice--
That the later stages which come under the charge of the physician are so common, results, in great part, from the carelessness of the patient, who, wearied with treatment, cannot understand why he should continue to take medicine after all the symptoms have disappeared; but, in part, the profession also is to blame for not insisting more urgently that acquired syphilis is not cured in a few months, but takes at least three years, during which time the patient should be under careful supervision.

Knowing, as I do, that syphilis is as easily cured as any infection--knowing, as I do, that without gastrointestinal decomposition, no disease, not even syphilis, can put up a winning fight against real health and normal elimination--I am surprised at what the leading English teacher of medicine has to say on the subject.

On the treatment of syphilis is where I part company with modern medical science. I have been in the profession many years; I have treated many cases of syphilis; and, where I have been favored with an early call, about two to four months is as long as I have ever kept a case under my supervision. No wonder there is a universal taint, when a patient is kept under treatment for three years! He will certainly have a medicine disease built in that time which probably will last for the remainder of his life. Every symptom developed during those three years will be attributed to the disease, when, in reality, it comes from a ridiculous manner of living on the part of the patient and the drugs be has been given.

The chancre should be treated the same as any ulcer. It must be kept clean. What I mean by keeping the chancre clean is that it should be washed with a very mild soap two or three times a day, and rinsed with warm soda water--a heaping teaspoonful of the soda to a pint of warm water. The parts should be bathed thoroughly with this alkaline water, so as to remove any soap. Then a little white vaseline may be used, and a light dressing of cotton, retained by a T-bandage. Under no circumstances should a dressing be put on that is retained by a cord, or, what is worse, a rubber band. Anything that constricts the organ will cause a puffiness in the foreskin. The more the circulation is interfered with, the slower the ulceration will be in getting well, and the more absorption and systemic infection will take place. If the primary disease is taken care of in a sensible, rational way, it will heal just the same as any ordinary sore; and if this can be carried through, and at the same time the inguinal glands prevented from becoming involved, there will be no constitutional derangement to be overcome.

The general care of the patient should be the same as would be given to overcome or prevent the spread of any disease; namely, a five-to-ten-minute warm bath, followed with a cold sponge-bath; and the cold sponge-bath should be followed with ten minutes' dry towel-rubbing before retiring. If the bathroom is warm of a morning, the bath should be taken at that time, and a dry rubbing given at night.

Until the disease is thoroughly under control, the patient should have nothing at all to eat except fruit--fresh, uncooked fruit morning, noon, and night, and at no other time. Water should not be taken. It is a mistake to drink freely of water; for the kidneys are forced to do vicarious work for the bowels, and this leaves the bowels constipated, causing infection.

The bowels should be moved every day. If the bowels do not move during the day, before retiring a small enema--a pint of water--may be put into the rectum and held for five minutes, and then a movement solicited.

The above treatment is so simple and so effective that it is hard for some patients, and many doctors, to believe that it can be trusted.

Sometimes I am not consulted until the ulceration is very great and the glandular involvement is pronounced. This means that infection has taken place, Now the question is, what kind of infection has taken place? Septic infection. I insist that syphilis is nothing more nor less than a badly treated septic infection, coming from maltreatment of a common ulcer. We do not believe in the doctrine that, unless patients are fed, the disease will master them; indeed, we know positively that feeding patients only feeds disease. The chancre or ulcer should be taken care of, it matters not how large it is, just as an ordinary ulcer would be managed. There is nothing in specific medication. The fact of the matter is that nature is fully capable of throwing off any and all diseases, if they have not advanced to such organic destruction that there can be no hope; and if nature cannot effect a cure--if nature cannot throw off disease--it will be because she is prevented by treatment and nursing.

Those who would have no further symptoms, no nervous diseases--tabes, or any of the diseases said to be due to syphillis--twenty-five to fifty years after, should live correctly.