SYPHILIS. 145 



out the infected person may, even after ten, twelve, 

 or more years, have syphilitic children. While in 

 some instances the disease poison takes such hold 

 upon the system as to rob the individual altogether 

 of his or her highest function, viz., that of continuing 

 the species. 



There is no other disease the poison of which has 

 so malignant and lasting an effect upon the constitu- 

 tion of man as syphilis, and the person who has been 

 once infected, is never safe either as an individual, 

 or as a parent. He may, certainly, after a course of 

 careful treatment enjoy good health and beget healthy 

 children, and imagine himself clear of the disease 

 and its evil effects; but even after years he may 

 beget a tainted child, or, if he catch some other dis- 

 order, its course may be affected, and grave compli- 

 cations arise because of the old taint. Excesses on 

 his part will be punished by prolonged attacks of 

 ill-health, and injuries which would speedily heal in 

 the healtby, in him will give rise to tedious and 

 exhausting ulcerations, diseases of the bones, and a 

 hundred other distressing troubles. 



We may briefly consider this disease under two 

 heads, as Acquired Syphilis and Hereditary Syphilis, 

 at the same time glancing at the degenerate condi- 

 tions we have hinted at as following in its wake. 



ACQUIRED SYPHILIS. In order to acquire this dis- 

 ease it is necessary that a quantity of the living poison 

 be introduced into the system. The quantity may be 

 infinitesimal, and is generally introduced through some 



