160 
CHARLES F. RING. 
ulcers appear, and a bull may become totally useless from tbe 
formation of sinuses in tbe penis, and also from excrescences on it. 
ihere can be no doubt as to the contagiousness of this affection, 
the discharge being tbe contaminating agent. Copulation alone 
disseminates the disease.”—[Fleming, Ibid , p. 349.] 
With this disease we complete the analogy with similar affee 
tions in the human family. “ The term ‘ duality of syphilis,’ 
therefore, really signifies a duality, not in syphilis, hut in what 
had been known as syphilis and called by that name.” 
Let us now briefly recapitulate, before proceeding further, the 
principal points we have already considered : 
I- It has been shown by a preponderance of evidence that 
the fact of the antiquity of syphilis has not been satisfactorily 
ascertained; that no substantial argument whatsoever has been 
adduced in its support, and that the so-called Ilihlical knowledge 
of syphilis is to all intents and purposes a myth. 
II- I hat the supposed metamorphosis of lepra into syphilis 
is not only highly improbable, and can in no way he substantiated, 
hut the weight of evidence and experiment, as well as all analogy, 
is entirely opposed to such a view. 
HI- I hat syphilis originated in Europe near the close of 
the fifteenth century, at or about the time of the siege of Naples 
by Charles VIII., and came not from America, as was for a time 
supposed. 
IV. That there are at least two entirely distinct and separate 
kinds of venereal products—the one inducing syphilis and con¬ 
stitutional disease; the other local mischief only, which is com¬ 
paratively harmless and capable of originating de novo. 
V. That venereal diseases in a local foi'm have undoubtedly 
existed from the earliest antiquity, being due, principally, to a 
want of cleanliness, ill health, and various exciting causes, and 
have their perfect analogues in the gonorrhoea and chancroid of 
the lower animals, especially bovines and solipeds. 
Genesis.— We are now prepared to study profitably the evolu¬ 
tion of that singular and mysterious epidemic of the close of the 
fifteenth century; to trace it, if it he possible, to its source, and 
to show how and in what manner it ultimately became a venereal 
disease, which it certainly was not at first. 
