CHAPTEE XXII. 



SYPHILIS. 



THE infectious microbic nature of syphilis is so evident that no 

 one for a moment would dare to question it, and yet with all 

 modern improvements for bacteriological research and the prevalence 

 of this affection at all times, and all over the world, it is strange 

 that, so far, it has not been possible to furnish positive and con- 

 vincing proof of the existence of a definite, specific microorganism 

 in all syphilitic lesions, and to demonstrate its etiological relation 

 to this disease. It is interesting and profitable to know what has 

 been done during the last few years in the bacteriological study of 

 syphilitic lesions, and although the claims which have been made 

 are in all probability unfounded, I will give a brief resume of the 

 literature on this subject. 



In 1884 Lustgarteu (Wiener med. Woehenschrift, 1884, No. 47) 

 announced that he had found a bacillus in two cases of initial 

 sclerosis and in a syphilitic gumma, for which he claimed specific 

 pathogenic properties. Nearly at the same time, and without 

 knowledge of Lustgarteu's work, Doutrelepout found a bacillus in a 

 primary hard chancre, two broad condylornata, and in one case of 

 syphilitic papular eruption of the skin, which resembled closely the 

 bacillus of tuberculosis. He found it difficult to stain this bacillus, 

 but finally succeeded with geutian-violet. In the beginning of the 

 year 1885, Lustgarten (''Die Syphilisbacillen," Mit. 4 Tafeln, 

 Wiener med. Jahrb., 1885) published his second paper, in which he 

 gave an accurate description of the bacillus and the results of a 

 more extended investigation of the subject. He had in the mean- 

 time examined numerous specimens of syphilitic lesions, and as he 

 had invariably been able to demonstrate the presence of the bacillus 

 in them and its absence in two soft chancres, he expressed his firm 

 conviction that the bacillus was the specific cause of the disease. 



DESCRIPTION OF LUSTGARTEN ? s BACILLUS OF SYPHILIS. The 

 bacilli are rods 3 to 4 micromillimetres in length, and 0.88 micro- 

 millimetre in thickness, resembling somewhat the bacilli of leprosy 

 and tuberculosis. The rods are not straight, but somewhat curved, 

 or S-shaped. After staining, light oval spots were seen within 

 their protoplasm which were thought to be spores. The bacilli 

 were never seen free, but were always found in the interior of 



