144 MARRIAGE AND DISEASE. 



often without a single symptom of the specific 

 disease and there forms the basis of epilepsies, scrofula, 

 idiocy, physical deformities, and other pathological 

 characters in them and their offspring. Until recently 

 it was believed by many that the scrofulous diathesis 

 in the child was but another form of the syphilitic 

 cachexia of the parent. The recent discovery of the 

 tubercle bacillus with its distinctive characteristics, 

 proves conclusively that there is no kinship between 

 syphilis and tubercular disease, but it in no way affects 

 the belief that the impoverished condition of the 

 syphilitic and his offspring is almost identical with 

 that condition known as the scrofulous diathesis. 

 Certain it is that the miserable devitalised children 

 of the syphilitic offer a peculiarly favourable field 

 for the growth and development of disease germs, and 

 as that of tubercle is one having a special affinity for 

 the tissues of those low in vital energy, a great number 

 of such children fall victims to tubercular disease. 

 As a factor in the production of general deterioration 

 of the family, no other agent at present known can 

 be compared with this disease syphilis. 



From the time of the formation of the primary sore 

 at the seat of inoculation of the syphilitic poison, or 

 perhaps earlier, up till two or three years after the 

 last signs of what are known as the " secondary 

 symptoms," the person infected will transmit the 

 disease itself to any child born or begotten, and in 

 cases which have been neglected in which a strict 

 and scientific course of treatment has not been carried 



