658 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



tion, known as chancre. Two or three weeks, or longer, 

 after exposure, a small, hard, reddish pimple makes 

 its appearance, usually upon the genitals, although 

 eases have occurred in which the disease was contracted 

 by kissing, when the chancre was formed upon the lip. 

 The pimple increases in size for a few days, and finally 

 ulcerates, and discharges slightly. It does not usually 

 give much inconvenience, and is, in fact, not infre- 

 quently unnoticed. In this respect, chancre differs 

 very materially from chancroid,— a very important 

 distinction. After a few daj^s the glands of the groins 

 become somewhat enlarged, although not very painful. 

 After one to three months, the secondary stage of the 

 disease appears, as an eruption of red spots, which 

 are followed by pimples. After a time, larger pimples 

 or pustules make their appearance, leaving behind 

 them pock marks like those of smallpox. Ulcers also 

 appear in some cases. Simultaneously with the occur- 

 rence of the eruption, slightly raised spots of a whitish 

 color, known as mucous patches, appear on the mucous 

 membrane of the lips and tongue and throat. A slight 

 discharge arises from these patches, which is of a very 

 contagious character. The patient also has sore throat, 

 and often sore eyes; and after the general health has 

 become considerably impaired, suffers greatly with 

 pain in the head, arms, legs, breast, and particularly 

 in the joints, though the pain is not confined to them 

 as in rheumatism. Small swellings, known as nodes, 

 which are tender on pressure, appear on the shins and 

 other parts. 



Most of the above symptoms usually disappear 

 after a few weeks, and the patient may seem to be well 

 for several months or years ; but unless the disease has 

 been properly treated, it is all the time at work in the 



