An Inquiry* 
105 
Bassereau, a pupil of M. Bicord, in 1852, demonstrated a distinct, 
and characteristic difference between the local contagious ulcer 
(the chancroid) and the lesion (chancre), which was followed by 
constitutional syphilis, and proved by a large number of observa¬ 
tions that the local contagious ulcer (the chancroid) was not fol¬ 
lowed by, nor was it capable of producing any constitutional 
disease, while the true syphilitic sore (chancre) was always fol¬ 
lowed by constitutional manifestations of syphilis. Mr. Acton, 
a valued English authority, writes (on the urinary and genital 
organs, London, 1860, pp. 279-317) : ; We must, however, frankly 
admit that in the present state of science it is impossible to de¬ 
termine where or under what circumstances the virus or its effects 
first appeared. My opinion is that syphilis originally arose from 
some poison introduced into the economy from animal or decom¬ 
posing matter, and that thus produced, it has been transmitted 
from one individual to another.’ ”—[Johnson’s Encyclopedia, last 
ed., article Syphilis.] 
We would ask that the reader keep in mind Mr. Acton’s 
theory of the origin of syphilis, as similar theories will be adduced 
further on, and their significance fully pointed out. 
Jourdan, who has written a celebrated pamphlet (Historical 
and Critical Observations on Syphilis), has this to say of its his¬ 
tory : u The question is generally put, Did syphilis appear for the 
first time towards the close of the fifteenth century ? The terms 
are not sufficiently explicit, since, as a preliminary matter, it is 
necessary to explain what is meant by syphilis. Now this defini¬ 
tion, which has been neglected by all writers, is the only way of 
duly appreciating, judging and reconciling the different opinions 
successively advanced on this subject. By the term syphilis, 
therefore, is to be understood: 1, a general affection of the sys¬ 
tem, which presents itself under a most frightful aspect, with 
many peculiar modifications, assuming a real epidemic character. 
In this sense, the word designates the disease which broke out 
towards the end of the fifteenth century. 2, it may serve to ex¬ 
press morbid symptoms arising from an intercourse with a dis¬ 
ordered person, communicated in the same way to other 
individuals, and having with each other a more or less intimate 
connection. Now, if we use the word syphilis in this last sense, 
