DISEASES PECULIAR TO MEN 657 



son finding himself afflicted with this disorder should 

 at once seek a skilful physician for advice, and should 

 give the matter serious attention until the disease is 

 wholly eradicated. 



Chancroid. — This disorder, sometimes termed sim- 

 ple venereal ulcer, was until recently regarded as a 

 form of true syphilis.- It is now known to be simply 

 a local disease. It is an infectious, eating ulcer, which 

 progresses rapidly when left to itself, and sometimes 

 destroys a very considerable portion of the part at- 

 tacked. The ulcer usually makes its appearance within 

 one to two hours after exposure. Buboes, or hard 

 swellings in the groin, often appear in connection with 

 this disease. Chancroid, sometimes termed soft chan- 

 cre, is distinguished from the ulcer which marks the 

 beginning of true syphilis, by the fact that the tissues 

 surrounding it are soft, while in true chancre the sore 

 has a hard or indurated feeling. Another peculiarity 

 of the soft chancre is that if a portion of the discharge, 

 which is very copious, is introduced beneath the skin, 

 or applied to a raw surface in any way, a new sore is 

 produced, whereas the sore of true syphilis is not capa- 

 ble of being propagated by inoculation in the same 

 individual. 



This disorder requires vigorous and prompt atten- 

 tion; and a person suffering with it should place him- 

 self immediately under the care of a thoroughly com- 

 petent physician. One of the most essential features 

 of the treatment of this class of cases is thorough 

 cleanliness. 



Syphilis. —The symptoms of this disease are too 

 numerous for full consideration here, and we can only 

 notice some of the chief features of the disease. It has 

 three distinct stages. The first is a local manifesta- 



